Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Health in Early Life

Abstract

Introduction: First Steps to Optimal Health and Fitness throughout Life Potential for Health Historical Aspects: Pedagogy and Education Physiology of Children Secular Trend: Acceleration of Growth Influence of Environmental Factors What Are the Aims? Theoretical Considerations: What Can We Learn from the Natural and Experimental Models? Influence of Diet Early in Life and Its Delayed Effects Influence of Increased PA during Pregnancy on the Later Development of Offspring Influence of Other Factors during Pregnancy Exercise during Pre- and Postnatal Ontogeny and Cardiac Microstructure of the Offspring Influence of PA on the Development of Experimental Cardiac Necrosis Impact of the Interactions between Early Diet and PA on Experimental Cardiac Necrosis General Considerations Nutrition of Pregnant Mothers and Their Children in Early Life: Human Studies Variability of Practices during Pregnancy and Lactation in Different Societies Position in Industrially Developed Countries Influence of Genetic Factors on Growth and Health Risks in the Offspring Impact of Maternal Status on Offspring Relationships among Anthropometric, Dietary, and Serum Lipid Variables of the Mother and the Newborn General Considerations Growth and Somatic Development of Preschool Children Introduction Evaluation of Somatic Growth Cross-Sectional Surveys of Anthropometric Variables Longitudinal Studies of Children from 3 to 6 Years of Age Body Composition and Fat Pattern Somatotypes Body Posture Relationship between Heights and Weights of Parents and Anthropometric Variables of Preschool Children Other Surveys General Considerations Nutritional Status and Dietary Intake in Early Life Introduction Energy Requirements Protein Requirements Fats Carbohydrates Minerals and Trace Elements Vitamins Methods for the Evaluation of Dietary Intake Dietary Intake and Energy Output in Czech Preschoolers: Results of Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Surveys Food Intake and Energy Output in Other Preschool Child Populations Food Habits, Preferences, and Aversions in Preschool Age RDAs for Preschool Children: Is There a Need for Further Revision? General Considerations and Recommendations Functional Development and Physical Activity during Early Childhood Introduction PA, EE, and Physical Fitness in Young Children Evaluation of PA and Physical Fitness Cardiorespiratory Fitness Motor and Sensomotor Development: Gross and Fine Motorics Metabolic and Biochemical Characteristics Studies of Biochemical Variables, Blood Pressure, and Fatness in Other Populations General Considerations Influence of Varying Nutrition and Environment on Somatic Development and Physical Fitness Introduction Growth and Development Influence of Different Types of Nutrition and Dietary Intake Surveys in Populations Varying in Environment and Dietary Intake Influence of Severe Malnutrition Problems of Child Labor General Considerations Development of Obesity and Its Influence on the Functional Capacity of Children and Youth Obesity in Young Children Changes of Obesity Prevalence with Time in Different Countries Genetic and Hereditary Factors in Early Childhood Obesity Maternal and Familial Factors in the Development of Childhood Obesity Early Factors in Obesity Development Evaluation of Obesity Results of Studies in Young Obese Subjects Health Complications of Obesity in Children Management of Obesity: Prevention and Treatment at an Early Age Morphological, Functional, and Biochemical Changes after Reduction Treatment General Considerations: Role of Obesity Interventions for Optimal Development at an Early Age Influence of Environmental Factors Introduction Influence of Living Conditions in the Capital and in Other Parts of the Czech Republic Economic Level and Birth Rank Environment, Risk Pregnancy, Family Conditions, and Health Effect of Birth Weight Effect of Family Situation Effect of Education of Parents Health Status of Children General Considerations Influence of Motor Stimulation, Physical Education, and Spontaneous Physical Activity Introduction Motor Development of Infants Experimental Observations on the Impact of Motor Stimulation in Infants Toddlers Motor Development and Education of Children Aged 3-6 Years What to Avoid in the Motor Stimulation in Young Children Influence of Exercise in Preschoolers Spontaneous PA, Somatic and Functional Development, Food Intake, and Blood Lipids Other Surveys on the Effect of PA and Exercise at an Early Age General Considerations Criteria for the Evaluation of Morphological and Functional Development in Preschool Children: Recommendations Body Size and Body Composition Functional Measurements: Cardiorespiratory Fitness Motor Development Sensomotor Development Dietary Intake and Biochemical Characteristics Summary of Experimental Results Studies in Experimental Models with Laboratory Animals Observations on the Influence of Maternal Nutrition on the Newborn Morphological and Functional Surveys in Preschool Children Surveys of Children with Various Environmental Conditions and Different Levels of Nutrition Obesity in Young Children Influence of Exercise Perspectives: Physical Activity, Early Prevention of Diseases, and Development of Positive Health Appendix 1 Body Posture Appendix 2 Step Test Appendix 3 Motor Performance Appendix 4 Sensomotor Tests 1180 References Index