Long-term Consequences of Early Environment: Growth, Development and the Lifespan Developmental Perspective

by C. Jeya K. Henry (Editor), Stanley J. Ulijaszek (Editor)

Overview

The early environment in which we grow up has profound, long lasting, and often irreversible consequences for us throughout our lives. Stresses due to undernutrition in early childhood can mean that in adulthood individuals are smaller, more prone to disease, and have a shorter life expectancy than those with normal diets. Disease and poor living conditions in infancy and childhood also have serious implications in adulthood. While environmental effects on human growth and development are well documented, the long term consequences due to processes taking place at the early stages of growth and development have only recently become a focus of intense study. In this volume, leading researchers in nutrition, epidemiology, human biology, anthropology and physiology bring together a uniquely accessible source of information on this fascinating topic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521118217
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/06/2009
Series:	Society for the Study of Human Biology Symposium Series , #37
Pages:	268
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: growth, development and the lifespan developmental perspective S. J. Ulijaszek and C. J. K. Henry; 2. Human growth and development from an evolutionary perspective B. Bogin; 3. Long-term consequences of early environments on human growth: a developmental perspective S. J. Ulijaszek; 4. Biosocial determinants of sex ratios: survivorship, selection, and socialisation in the early environment C. M. Worthman; 5. Antenatal growth and birth factors and their relationships to child growth N. Cameron; 6. The effect of early nutrition on later growth M. H. N. Golden; 7. Influence of under-nutrition in early life on growth, body composition and metabolic competence S. A. Wootton and A. A. Jackson; 8. Early environment and later nutritional needs C. J. K. Henry; 9. Ontogeny of human taste and smell preferences and their implications for food selection D. J. Mela and S. Catt; 10. The origins of coronary heart disease in early life D. J. P. Barker; 11. Early life stresses and adult health: insights from dental enamel development A. H. Goodman; 12. The childhood environment and the development of sexuality N. P. M. Richards; 13. Possible relationships between the onset of puberty and female fertility L. Rosetta; 14. Early environment, long latency and slow progression of late onset neurodegenerative disorders R. M. Garruto; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"The notion of the serious consequences of seemingly transient problems such as low birth weight on later health and even life-span is fascinating. The book has a population biology focus which is enlightening and presents a difefrent perspective than that commonly held by therapists...it would be an excellent addition to a professional library." MaryBeth Mandich, Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics

"This is an interesting collection of work that again shows us how the evolutionary, biosocial, and comparative perspective of human biology can offer important insights into human variability. The book should be of interest to graduate students and professionals." Linda Adair, American Journal of Human Biology

From the Publisher