PSYC 4070 Chapter : Dev Psyc Chapter 8
Document Summary
In early childhood as in infancy, the body and brain develop according to powerful epigenetic forces, biologically driven and socially guided, experience-expectant and experience dependent. Bodies and brains mature in size and function. Children slim down as the lower body lengthens and fat turns to muscle. Gone are toddler"s protruding belly, round face, short limbs, and large head. The center of gravity moves from the breast to the belly. Changing body proportions enable new achievements year by year. Increases in weight and height accompany these new proportions. Low income families encourage their children to eat, protecting them against famine. Unfortunately this practice can be destructive when food is over abundant. An epidemic of heart disease and diabetes is spreading worldwide as overfed children become overweight adults. U. s. children could become the first generation in more than a century to have shorter life spans than their parents if current trends of excessive weight and obesity continue.
