2. WHAT IS ADOLESCENCE?
Adolescence (from Latin adolescere meaning "to grow up").
It is a transitional stage of physical and psychological human developmet that generally
occurs during the period from puberty to legal adulthood (age of majority). The period of
adolescence is most closely associated with the teenage years, though its physical,
psychological and cultural expressions may begin earlier and end later. For example,
although puberty has been historically associated with the onset of adolescent
development, it now typically begins prior to the teenage years and there have been a
normative shift of it occurring in preadolescence, particularly in females (see early and
precocious puberty). Physical growth, as distinct from puberty (particularly in males),
and cognitive development generally seen in adolescence, can also extend into the early
twenties.
3. STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT IN ADOLESCENTS
During the preteen and teenage years, adolescents go
through many physical and psychological changes on
their way to adulthood. From emotional and cognitive
growth to sexual and social awareness, the stages of
development of adolescents present both children and
parents with many challenges. While there are standard
guidelines for adolescent development, it is important to
understand that each child is an individual and will
develop at her own pace.
4. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
There are four (4) stages of development :
Biological Development
- puberty in general - reproduction-related changes
- changes in the brain - growth spurt
5. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT CONT’D
Cognitive Development
- theorectical perspectives - improvement in cognitive abilities
- metacognition - wisdom
- risk-taking - relativistic thinking
Psychological Development
Social Development
Identity Development Relationships
- self-concept - in general
- sense of identity - family
- peers
- sexual orientation and identity - romance and sexual activity
6. NUTRITION DURING ADOLESCENCE
Adolescence is a critical period of growth and development, so
good nutrition is essential. During adolescence, the need for
most nutrients including energy, protein, vitamins and
minerals increases. As appetite is also likely to increase, it is
important that food choices are made carefully. It can be
tempting at this time to increase the intake of snack foods and
fast foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt.
Teenagers make many more choices for themselves than they did
as children. Their interest in nutrition both valid information
and misinformation derives from personal and immediate
experiences.
7. WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCES ADOLESCENT
FOOD CHOICES?
Lifestyle
Food Preferences
Early childhood experiences, exposure, genetics
Taste and appearance
Health and nutrition
Religion
Cost
Family
8. NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Adolescents should aim to:
Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods such as:
o Vegetables of different types and colours, and legumes/beans
o Fruit
o Grain (cereal) foods, mostly whole grain and/or high cereal fiber
varieties, such as
breads, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, polenta, couscous, oats, quinoa
and barley
o Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds
o Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or their alternatives, mostly reduced fat
Drink plenty of water
Limit intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt and added
sugars.
9. NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS CONT’D
Calcium
Calcium has many important functions in the body but most
importantly in children and adolescents is the development of
healthy bones, teeth.
Calcium requirements increase dramatically from about the age
of 11 years in what is known as the pre-pubertal growth spurt.
A lack of calcium can lead to poor mineralization of bones and
low bone mineral density (a measure of bone strength). This can
lead to many problems including permanent bone deformities and
diseases of the bone such as osteoporosis (where bones are
weak and break easily) in later life.
We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to build strong bones.
Approximately 30% of all mineral deposited in our bones
throughout life, occurs during adolescence and 90% of our adult .
10. NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS CONT’D
Skeleton is formed by the age of 18 and even earlier in girls. Therefore it
is essential that enough calcium is received to allow this to happen.
For 11 to 18 year olds, about 1 in 17 boys and 1 in 9 girls have an intake
below the LRNI. These figures have fallen from the previous national
survey. Future surveys will reveal if this is a real change, but the fact
remains large numbers of teenagers, particularly girls, don't get enough
calcium.
Dairy products are good providers of calcium and many other nutrients
important to good bone health and of increased demand during childhood
and adolescence e.g. phosphorus, magnesium and protein.
Consumption of a glass or 200ml milk, a matchbox sized (30g) piece of
low-fat cheese and a pot (200g) yogurt will go a long way to helping this
age group meet their daily calcium requirement.
11. NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS CONT’D
Contribution of just 1 glass of milk a day to bone friendly nutrient requirements
Nutrient
Recommended
nutrient intake (RNI)
for a female 15-18
years of age
Amount (%)
provided by 1
glass of semi-
skimmed milk
(200ml)
Recommended
nutrient intake (RNI)
for a male 15-18 years
of age
Amount (%)
provided by 1
glassof semi-
skimmed milk
(250ml)
Calcium 800 30.8 1000 30.8
Magnesium300 7.7 300 9..6
Phosphorus625 31.0 775 31.3
Protein 45 16.9 55.2 16.3
Recommended amounts are provided by the Department of Health DRV’s (Dietary Reference
Values).
12. NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS CONT’D
Iron
Iron is important for growth, brain development and the immune
system, however it is commonly deficient or sub optimal in both
children and adolescents.
The latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008/2009) found
that many teenage girls had a low intake of iron; 46% of 11- 18
year-olds had intakes below the lower reference nutrient intake
(LRNI), suggesting that they were extremely inadequate.
Teenage girls in particular are affected by poor iron status due to
increased iron losses during menstruation that are not replaced
through the diet.
13. NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS CONT’D
If iron levels become too low it can lead to a condition called iron
deficiency anaemia. Anaemia is known to compromise all work
performance, both physical and mental, but recent studies have
suggested that even low iron stores without anaemia can negatively
affect brain function.
It was therefore worrying that The National Diet and Nutrition Survey
(2000) found that 1% of boys and 9% of girls aged 15 to 18 years were
actually classified as anaemic. Other studies of teenagers have found
anaemia to be three times more common in vegetarians compared to
meat eaters, and in girls who had recently tried to lose weight.
Consumption of sufficient iron in the diet is therefore very important for
ensuring stores are sufficiently high to allow correct development in
children and adolescents. Good dietary providers of iron include meats
such as beef, lamb, pork, chicken, green leafy vegetables, fortified
cereals and pulses.
Consuming foods containing vitamin C along with iron providing foods
will help iron to be absorbed by the body e.g. a glass of citrus fruit juice
with a meal or a piece of citrus fruit such as orange or grapefruit after a
meal.
14. OTHER VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Zinc
Zinc is essential for adequate growth and sexual
development.
Foods containing zinc include meats e.g.
beef, lamb, pork etc.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is essential for good development of the eyes
and for the immune system.
Foods containing vitamin A include dairy foods, dark
green vegetables and orange/red fruits and vegetables.
15. OTHER VITAMINS AND MINERAL CONT’D
B vitamins
The B vitamins including B6, B2 and thiamin and niacin are
important for many functions including breakdown and use
of carbohydrate and protein in the body. Vitamin B12 and
folate are also important for the nervous system and for
making new cells in the body.
Requirements for these nutrients are increased in children
and adolescents but the latest National Diet and Nutrition
Survey suggests that levels of these are mostly adequate
except for vitamin B2 which is inadequate in girls aged 11-18
years old.
Foods containing B vitamins include meats, cereals and
vegetables
16. OTHER VITAMINS AND MINERAL CONT’D
Several of the vitamin recommendations for adolescents are
similar to those for adults, including the recommendation for
Vitamin D. During puberty, both the activation of Vitamin D and
the absorption of calcium are enhanced, thus supporting the
intense skeletal growth of the adolescent years without additional
vitamin D.
17. FOOD LIKES AND DISLIKES
Likes Dislikes
snacks vegetables
chips fruits
chicken ground provisions
pasta
sweet drinks
eating out at restaurants
19. BULIMIA
What is Bulimia?
Bulimia Nervosa is a serious psychiatric illness characterised by recurrent
binge-eating episodes (the consumption of abnormally large amounts of food in
a relatively short period of time), followed by compensatory behaviour (purging
or overexercising). Binge episodes are associated with a sense of loss of control
and immediately followed by feelings of guilt and shame, which leads the
person to compensatory behaviour (purging) such as self-induced
vomiting, fasting, overexercising and/or the misuse of laxatives, enemas or
diuretics.
A person with Bulimia Nervosa usually maintains an average weight, or may be
slightly above or below average weight for height, which often makes it less
recognisable than serious cases of Anorexia Nervosa. Many people, including
some health professionals, incorrectly assume that a person must be
underweight and thin if they have an eating disorder. Because of this, Bulimia
Nervosa is often missed and can go undetected for a long period of time.
20. BULIMIA CONT’D
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge-eating disorder is a serious
eating disorder in which you frequently
consume unusually large amounts of food.
21. ANOREXIA NERVOSA
What is Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia Nervosa is a psychological illness with devastating physical consequences. It
is characterised by low body weight and body image distortion with an obsessive fear of
gaining weight which manifests itself through depriving the body of food. It often
coincides with increased levels of exercise.
Anorexia Nervosa is usually developed during adolescence and generally has an earlier
age of onset than Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder (the latter are often
developed during late adolescence or early adulthood). However like all eating
disorders, Anorexia Nervosa can be developed at any age or stage of life for both males
and females.
Two main sub-types of anorexia are recognised:
Restricting type: this is the most commonly known type of Anorexia Nervosa whereby
a person severely restricts their food intake. Restriction may take many forms (e.g.
maintaining very low calorie count; restricting types of food eaten; eating only one meal
a day) and may follow obsessive and rigid rules (e.g. only eating food of one colour).
Binge-eating or purging type: less recognised; a person restricts their intake as
above, but also during some bouts of restriction the person has regularly engaged in
binge-eating OR purging behaviour (e.g. self induced vomiting, over-exercise, misuse of
laxatives, diuretics or enemas).
23. OBESITY
What is obesity?
Obesity is defined as having an excessive amount of body fat. It is a medical condition
in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have a negative
effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health
problems.
Immediate health effects:
Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such
as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In a population-based sample of 5- to
17-year-olds, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular
disease.
Obese adolescents are more likely to have prediabetes, a condition in which
blood glucose levels indicate a high risk for development of diabetes.
Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint
problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as
stigmatization and poor self-esteem.
24. OBESITY CONT’D
Long-term health effects:
Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults and are
therefore more at risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, type 2
diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.One study showed
that children who became obese as early as age 2 were more likely to be obese
as adults.
Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk for many types of
cancer, including cancer of the
breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall
bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, and prostate, as well as multiple myeloma and
Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
26. TO REVIEW ADOLESCENCE NUTRITIONAL ISSUES
Weight gain leading to obesity and type 2 diabetes
Calcium intake and soft drink consumption leading to
inadequate bone mineralization
Eating habits that result in disordered eating practices
Low consumption of fruit and vegetables and high
consumption of fat and sodium are related to adult-onset
disease risk
27. RECOMMENDATIONS
Eat three meals a day, with healthy snacks.
Increase fiber in the diet and decrease the use of salt.
Drink water. Try to avoid drinks that are high in sugar. Fruit juice can
have a lot of calories, so limit your adolescent's intake. Whole fruit is
always a better choice.
Eat balanced meals.
When cooking for your adolescent, try to bake or broil instead of fry.
Make sure your adolescent watches (and decreases, if necessary) his or
her sugar intake.
Eat fruit or vegetables for a snack.
Decrease the use of butter and heavy gravies.
Eat more chicken and fish. Limit red meat intake, and choose lean cuts
when possible
