Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-284) and index.
Ch. 1. Introduction: First Steps to Optimal Health and Fitness Throughout Life -- Ch. 2. Theoretical Considerations: What Can We Learn From the Natural and Experimental Models? -- Ch. 3. Nutrition of Mothers During Pregnancy and Its Influence on Their Children: Human Studies -- Ch. 4. Growth and Somatic Development of Preschool Children -- Ch. 5. Nutritional Status and Dietary Intake in Early Life -- Ch. 6. Functional Development During Early Childhood -- Ch. 7. The Influence of Different Degrees of Dietary Intake on Somatic Development and Physical Fitness -- Ch. 8. The Development of Obesity and Its Influence on the Functional Capacity of Children and Youth -- Ch. 9. The Influence of Environmental Factors -- Ch. 10. Influence of Motor Stimulation, Physical Education, and Spontaneous Physical Activity -- Ch. 11. Criteria for the Evaluation of Morphological and Functional Development In Preschool Children: Recommendations -- Ch. 12. Summary of Experimental Results -- Ch. 13. Perspectives: Physical Activity, Early Prevention of Diseases and the Development of Positive Health