Nutrition in Adolescence Nutritional Needs of Adolescence

- Providing nutritional needs of adolescents is a challenge to the Energy

health professional because this period is characterized by:  Carbohydrates should supply 50-60% of the total calories
1. Accelerated growth and development needed/day
2. Social changes including lifestyle, food habits, and physical
activities
3. Emotional stress associated with personal and academic
responsibilities and psychological concerns that may result
in eating disorders.
4. Health concerns that demand special nutritional needs Protein
such as smoking, drug and alcohol abuse and pregnancy.  Correlate more closely with the growth pattern rather than
with age
Stages of Adolescence  Boys have higher protein and energy needs than girls due to
Prepuberty (Prepubescence) their greater gain in height and lean body mass during
- 9-12 years old puberty.
- Endocrine changes start and for girls, menarche or onset of
menses may occur
Puberty (Pubescence)
- 13-15 years old
- Hip width increase for girls; Girls gain more fat that boys, but
Minerals
boys gain more lean tissues than girls
 Calcium and Iron are the two minerals often lacking in Filipino
- Girls gain an average growth of 2-8 inches and boys 4-12 inches
teenagers. Yet they are among the most critical of all minerals
- Growth spurt occurs for girls 10-11 years old and for boys 12-13
for growth and development.
years old.
 Girls have increased allowances for iron due to the menstrual
Post puberty (Postpubescence)
cycle.
- 16-18 years old
 Calcium needs for both sexes from 10-18 years old remain the
- Growth slows down following the attainment of sexual maturity
same; 1000mg/day.
 Iodine for both seen in 10-18 years old are the same at 150
Psychological Changes During Adolescence mcg.
 In the first stage (10-12 years old) – Includes pubertal and Vitamins
cognitive changes; the adolescent is aware of peer  The needs for Thiamine, Niacin, and Riboflavin correlate with
relationships, starts to be conscious of the body parts and body energy intake.
image; trust parents and adults.  These B vitamins are needed to release energy from
 In the second stage or mid-adolescent period (13-15 years old) carbohydrates.
– time of increased independence and experimentation; there  In general, males ages 16-18 years old, have higher vitamin
is more peer pressure, more independence from parents and needs for A, C, and B-complex because of differences in the
less trustful of adults; significant cognitive development. number of active cells.
 In the last stage (16-18 years old) – time to make important Water
personal and vocational decisions; has established a body  It is important to drink water up to 12 glasses per day.
image; definitely shows independence; makes plan for the
future; establishes more intimacy and permanent relationships
with others.
Feeding Problems During Adolescence Food dislikes and Food Idiosyncrasies
 Irregular Meals And Snacking  Making children and adolescents eat a variety of vegetables is
 Establishing Body Image a common problem.
 Food Dislikes And Food Idiosyncrasies  Often, what the elders buy and eat influence the food habits
of the children.
Irregular meals and Snacking  Teacher in the schools can be a role model or have one of the
 Skipping breakfast and eating later in school or work may classmate be the leader. Children and adolescent like to
impose a threat as it turns out to be a snack rath er than a imitate and follow a peer.
breakfast and the usual food choices may be empty-calorie  During adolescence, food choices may be influenced by
foods, usually high in fat, sodium, and calories but low in advertisement of fast foods and what their peers eat.
essential nutrients.  Avoid too much exposure to television and video games and
 One solution to this is to guide them in time management; continue education on proper meals at proper time.
prepare the lunch box or kit the night before or prepare a
“breakfast-to-go” wherein it can be eaten while traveling.
 Guide them on proper food choices; choose nutritious mini-
meals or snacks like fresh fruit in season and fruit juices.
 Let your teenager help with planning balanced diets for the
whole family with the use of the food pyramid as a practical
guide.
 At least, once a day, usually in the evening, dining should be
relaxed, sit-down mealtime for the family to enjoy and
communicate pleasantly (not the time and place for co plains,
arguments, or bickering).

Establishing Body Image

 The female adolescent who gets too conscious of her body
shape and figure, becomes a prey to false advertisements, food
fads and fallacies, or bad practices of some peers on how to
stay slim.
 Eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia) are serious
cases, often psychological in nature, develop as a result of the
over-anxious adolescent
 These health issues could be prevented by teaching young girls
how to eat a balanced diet and making them aware of the
threats they impose on their bodies if they continue to restrict
their energy and nutrient intake.
 For males who want to look “macho” could be lure by
misleading advertisements.
 Parents and nutritionist/dieticians and other health
professionals to educate the children (even before they enter
the teenage period), about the proper nutrition and exercise or
engaging in physical activities.
 Familiarized then with the hazards of fads and the harmful
consequences of eating disorders.
Adolescents with Special Nutritional Needs
 The Pregnant Adolescent
 The Adolescent Athlete
 Substance Abuse
 Acne

The Pregnant Adolescent Acne

 A young female who conceives early is at greatest risk as she
herself has not finished growing and is still yet to reach peak
bone mass.
 Psychological and social stress indirectly affect proper food
intake.
 Family support and guidance counseling are critical for the
pregnant adolescent.
 To ensure emotional adequacy, educate and encourage the
pregnant adolescent to gain the recommended amount of
weight, which is about 30 pounds for the entire gestation
period.
 If she is underweight, to begin with, 30-40 pounds will be
appropriate.
The Adolescent Athlete
 Energy, protein, and water needs are critical for the adolescent
athlete.
 Factors that determine the amount of calories include the kind,
length of time, duration of the activity, intensity, and frequency
of performing a specific activity.
 The adolescent athlete is particularly vulnerable to food fads
that would enhance performance.
 Inappropriate use of nutritional supplements and other
“ergogenic aids” will do more harm than good.
 Occurrence of acne is considered part of normal development
during adolescence.
 Other factors that contribute to the appearance of acne
include heredity, stress, the composition of the skin tissues,
hormonal imbalance as part of adolescence especially for girls
as they menstruate
 Smooth complexion, clear skin, and glossy healthy hair are
incentives to the adolescent female. Healthy teeth, proper
growth and development, and attaining the right weight for
height with a good figure all need proper nutrition and
exercise
 Nutrition educators can use this incentive to encourage
teenagers to eat properly and choose foods and drinks
properly
 Remind them of personal hygiene in grooming and in handling
food.

Substance Abuse
 The effects of these substances on the nutritional status of an
individual depend on the kind, dose, or concentration,
frequency of use, duration of habitual use, and last but not
least, the addicted person’s general state of health.
 Taking drugs, heavy smoking and alcoholic drinking certainly
causes loss of appetite.
 With a poor nutritional state, resistance to infection is reduced,
and the vicious cycle of cause-and-effect by these two
parameters is observed.