The prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes amongst all age groups has reached alarming levels. As a result, more and more women of child bearing age are either obese and/or diabetic during pregnancy. There is increasing evidence that exposure to an adverse fetal and/or early postnatal environment may increase susceptibility to a number of chronic diseases later in the life of the offspring. However, the mechanisms by which excess maternal weight and diabetes may lead to disease in the offspring in adulthood are not fully understood.

We invite investigators to contribute original clinical and basic research articles as well as review articles that would address the broad topic of Impact of maternal obesity and diabetes on long-term health of the offspring. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Impact of maternal obesity or diabetes on the development of obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes in the offspring
• Impact of maternal obesity or diabetes on cardiovascular and renal disease in the offspring
• Interventional studies to reduce the impact of the intergenerational cycle of obesity and diabetes
• Impact of the immediate postnatal environment on the development of diabetes and obesity in the offspring
• Mechanisms leading to fetal programming of adult disease, specifically related to obesity and diabetes
• Impact of maternal obesity and diabetes on epigenetic modifications leading to disease in the offspring

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jdr/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: