CHAPTER 18

NUTRITION IN
ADOLESCENCE
CHARACTERISTICS

Adolescence is the transition period between

childhood and adulthood, girls maturing
earlier than boys. It is the period where there
is augmented biological development, second
only to that immediately prior to and
following birth. It is divided into three stages:
prepubescence, pubescence, and post
pubescence.
• The prepubescence stage includes early and
hidden changes associated with the hepirining of
altered endocrine activities.
• The pubescence starts abruptly and is
characterized by rapid growth and physical stration.
• Post pubescence is the final process in the
attainment of adulthood and is characterized by
terminal deceleration of growth, an increase in
muscle development and maturation of sex organ
functions.
NUTRIENT ALLOWANCES

Philippine RDA categorizes adolescence into the 13-

15 age group and the 16-19 years old. At this point it
is well to emphasize that all adolescents do not grow
and develop at the same rate or at the same age.
Since nutrient needs tend to coincide with the
velocity of growth, recommended nutrient
allowances will be more valid if based on levels of
growth.
ENERGY
• The reference 44 kg boy be- tween 13-15
years needs 310 kcalories y more than the
girl of the same weight and age. Around
0.5mg / 1000 kcalories is set as the
allowance for thiamin and riboflavin, and 6.6
niacin equivalents for every 1000 kcalories.
• For ages 16-19 years, the reference 55 kg boy
needs 640 kcalories more than the 48 kg girl.
PROTEIN

• Protein allowances for 13-15 age level is 59

grams for both boys and girls. However, for
the 16-19 group for the category, protein
allowance for reference 55 kg boy increases
to 65 grams whereas that of the 48 kg
reference girl remains the same.
VITAMINS

• Vitamins A, C, thiamin and riboflavin are

found deficient in the diet of & Filipino
adolescent. Allowance for vitamin A is the
same at all age levels; however, vitamin C
allowance is constantly higher among boys
than among girls 16-19 years old.
MINERALS
• Calcium and iron are two principal minerals found
inadequate in the diet of Filipino teenagers. The
importance of calcium lies in its key role in bone
formation.
• The calcium RDA of the 10-15 age group is higher
(700 mg) compared the 16-19 age group (600 mg).
This difference reflects the spurt of bone
development between 10 and 15 and the plateau
by ages 16 to 19.
FEEDING ADOLESCENT
• Snack can provide valuable nutrients from
foods like fruits, juices, sandwiches, milk, and
other milk-containing preparetions. Or they
can be loaded with "empty" calories or Junk"
foods, meaning foods with limited nutritional
values because of their high sugar and starch
content and/or the dilution of high quality
nutrients with ingredients of lower nutritional
quality.
FEEDING PROBLEMS IN AN
ADOLESCENT GIRL
Factors commonly cited to contribute to a
teenage girl's poor diet are:
(1) emotional and social pressures;
(2) self-consciousness especially with regard to
her figure; and
(3) independence in choice of foods.
She is apt to skip or skimp on nourishing
foods. Breakfast which is good source of
calcium, vitamin C and riboflavin, is often
missed. Her reasons are:
(1) not hungry;
(2) watching weight;
(3) no time;
(4) food in the morning "makes me sick."
THE PREGNANT
ADOLESCENT
• Pregnancy places the teenage girl on a borderline
state of nutrition unless nutrient intake is increased.
It puts an extra psychological and physical stress in
the mother- to-be since she must provide nutrition
for her own continued development as well as for
the baby. Underweight and anemia places her in a
high risk category. She may develop complications
such as toxemia and may deliver prematurely.
Babies born to teenage mothers oftentimes are in a
critical condition during the first weeks of life.
THE MENTALLY
RETARDED ADOLESCENT
• The nutritional intake of retarded
adolescents is often poor and lacking in im-
portant nutrients. Many of their dietary
problems can be traced to the parents'
tendency to infantalize them. Oftentimes
foods particularly high carbohydrate items
such as candies, cakes, and desserts, are
used as reward or bribe for good behavior.
DRUGS AND THE
ADOLESCENT
• Drug addiction is becoming the youth's number one
enemy and the biggest problem in the community.
Latest statistics show that more than 50% of
students in Greater Manila have smoked marijuana
commonly called mary jane, pot, grass, weed, or
"damo".
• A number of nutrition experts, however, have cited
nutritional problems, like vitamin deficiencies,
anemia, general malnutrition, tooth decay and
decreased appetite.
NUTRITION EDUCATION
FOR BETTER FOOD HABITS
Surveys report the followin liabilities:
(1) teenagers are given the impression that nutrition
means "eating what you do not like because it is good
for you,"
(2) food is only one aspect of their busy lives and can
receive only minor attention
(3) many persons who are in strategic positions to help
them are not knowledgeable about practical nutrition;
(4) the decline of family meals eaten together leisurely.
INDICATIONS OF GOOD
NUTRITION
• A 24-hour recall in which the adolescent is
asked to list quantities of food consumed in
the past 24 hours gives an insight into the
eating habits. The condition of the teeth,
number of decayed, missing or filled teeth
(DMF index) reflects consumption of
excessive refined carbohydrates.
FOODS TO BE INCLUDED
DAILY
Food Boys Boys Girls Girls
Groups 13-15 16-19 13-15 16-19
Body-
Building
Foods:

Fish/ 4 servings 4 servings 4 servings 3-1/2

Poultry/ servings
Meat 3-4/week 3-4/week 3-4/week
Egg 3/4 cup, 3/4 cup, 1/2 cup, 3-4/week
Dried cooked cooked cooked 1/2 cup,
Beans and cooked
Nuts
Energy Foods:

Rice and Other 6-1/2 cups, 6-1/2 cups, 5-1/2 cups, 4-3/4 cups,
Cereals cooked cooked cooked cooked
Rootcrops 1 medium 1 medium 1 medium 1 small
Sugar 9 level tsp. 9 level tsp 7 level tsp. 7 level tsp.
Fats 9 level tsp. 9 level tsp.. 6 level tsp. 6 level tsp.

Regulating
Foods:

Green leafy & 3/4 cup, 3/4 cup, 3/4 cup, 3/4 cup,
Yellow cooked cooked cooked cooked
vegetables
VitaminC-rich 2 servings 2 servings 2 servings 2 servings
Fruits
(papaya,guava,
atis, etc.
Other Fruits 1 serving fruit 1 serving fruit 1 serving fruit 1 serving fruit
and Vegetables & 1/2 cup, & 1/2 cup, & 1/2 cup, & 1/2 cup,
(okra, eggplant, cooked cooked cooked cooked
langka, etc. vegetables vegetables vegetables vegetables
Reported by:
Cathlyn O. Magallanes
BTVTED-FSM 2A