Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Health in Early Life (2^nd Ed.)

During the past decade since the first edition of this practical work was published, global prevalence of obesity has increased by epic proportions, and physical fitness levels have continued to decline. Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Health in Early Life, Second Edition analyzes cutting-edge longitudinal and cross-sectional data on morphological, nutritional, and functional characteristics related to environmental factors to assess how the lifestyle choices we make when we?re young deeply impact overall health and wellness throughout our lives.

Includes Step-by-Step Nutrition and Exercise Plans

Extensively revised and updated, this definitive second edition synthesizes new, original research findings related to anthropometric and body composition data, dietary intake, cardiorespiratory function, motor and psychomotor skills, muscle strength, and biochemical and physiological parameters of preschool-age children. The book supplies ready-to-implement nutrition and exercise plans that are appropriate for children in this age group. Almost tripling the number of references, the text includes new chapters that address the role of genetic factors in addition to prevention techniques, consequences, and treatment of obesity. It also compares body mass index, body composition, and the shifts of adiposity rebound on an international scale.

Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Health in Early Life, Second Edition emphasizes that to preserve a high-quality of life no matter your age, it is crucial that a foundation of healthy nutrition and optimal physical activity, which increases the level of physical fitness, be cemented early on. In effect, this book illustrates why early prevention always trumps a cure.

Introduction: First Steps to Optimal Health and Fitness throughout Life. Theoretical Considerations: What Can We Learn from the Natural and Experimental Models? Nutrition of Pregnant Mothers and Their Children in Early Life: Human Studies. Growth and Somatic Development of Preschool Children. Nutritional Status and Dietary Intake in Early Life. Functional Development and Physical Activity during Early Childhood. Influence of Varying Nutrition and Environment on Somatic Development and Physical Fitness. Development of Obesity and Its Influence on the Functional Capacity of Children and Youth. Influence of Environmental Factors. Influence of Motor Stimulation, Physical Education, and Spontaneous Physical Activity. Criteria for the Evaluation of Morphological and Functional Development in Preschool Children: Recommendations. Summary of Experimental Results. Perspectives: Physical Activity, Early Prevention of Diseases, and Development of Positive Health.

Professor Jana Pařízková, MD, PhD, DSc, is a senior scientist at the Centre for the Management of Obesity, Institute of Endocrinology in Prague, Czech Republic. Her main area of research is body composition and obesity with joined metabolic and clinical problems as related to actual diet, physical activity level, physical fitness, biochemical and hormonal characteristics, psychological traits, etc.