Child And Adolescent Nutrition - Research Paper Example

Child and Adolescent Nutrition Your al affiliation Optimal level of nutrition at childhood and adolescence stages are crucial for health and development. Adequate food intake not only ensures healthy growth in childhood and adolescent years but also decrease the likelihood of disease in older age. Food habits, consumption patterns, quantity and quality in these years determine the overall lifestyle of an adult individual. Several studies are discussed that recommend healthy and balanced diet and regular physical activity for maximum physical, mental and emotional development. In addition, the paper discusses modern lifestyles and prevailing nutrition related issues among children and adolescents. Child and adolescent nutrition Human nutrition needs are different at every stage of life. For optimal development and growth, it is vital to provide children with nutritionally perfect diet in formative years. Need and importance of maintaining healthy nutrition practices during childhood and adolescent years is firmly established by health professionals and nutritionists alike. Diet and activity patterns during these crucial growing years decide the health, vitality and risk of disease in older age. Cavadini, Siega-Riz and Popkin (2000) studied adolescent food consumption trends and their association with chronic disease implications in United States. The study observes a substantial change in adolescent diet from 1965 to 1996.Energy intake decreased as a whole in addition to decrease in proportion(39-32 percent) of energy from total fat and (15-12 percent) of saturated fat. Simultaneously considerable increases are observed in the consumption of high fat potato and other dishes, for instance, pizzas, macaroni cheese. With a total decrease in milk consumption (36 percent) lower fat milks replaced higher fat milks. On the other hand, non-citrus and soft drink consumption increased over a period of time. High fat potato consumption may have increased vegetable intake but recommended level of five servings of vegetable and fruit consumption is still not achieved. Particularly for girls, iron, folate and calcium intake is still below recommended levels. Cavadini, Siega-Riz and Popkin (2000) concluded that these dietary trends among adolescents are going to have far reaching impact on future US population. In developing countries, about 1.2 billion adolescents between 10 and 19 years of age make one fifth of their total population. Usually adolescents are not considered at risk when it comes to health. However, it is often ignored that poor diet and unhealthy lifestyles determine their health conditions in later years. Studies show that inadequate diet and nutrition has a huge impact in lacking learning ability and productivity levels. In addition, malnutrition increases the possibility of poor obstetric outcomes for teen mothers that put the development of their future children at risk. Children born to underdeveloped and unhealthy women are likely to be undersized and underweight in addition to having less cognitive ability. Obstetric risk initiated by stunting in early years and adolescence persists all over a women’s reproductive life (Adolescent Nutrition,” n.d.). In early childhood, after four years of age, children energy need per kilogram of weight decreases but calorie need increases with age. From five years to adolescence, the growth becomes slower but steady. Dietary intake of Iron, calcium, vitamin A, D and vitamin C may be less than recommended, but these are unlikely to be deficient in this age group unless energy and protein intake is adequate from various food items. Carbohydrates, protein, fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, milk and other fluids are vital part of energy needs. For adolescents, nutritional requirements increase with growth associated with puberty. Optimal growth years are 11-15 for girls and 13-16 for boys. Food intake may differ in teenagers. Therefore, maintaining balance and following recommended servings can help teenagers avoid deficient or excessive eating. During this age, nutrients, such as, calcium and iron are more likely to be deficient (“Child and Adolescent Nutrition,”2006). Despite great emphasis on healthy and balanced diet, children and adolescents are more inclined towards junk food. High sugar and fat content may makes a tasty snake but these empty calories hold zero nutritional value. During such critical years of development, children and adolescents become prey to cunning food marketing. Consequently, they experience mal-nutrition, lack of vital nutrients, obesity, eating and behavioral disorders, and risk of disease in adulthood. Due to several reasons, eating disorders, such as, Anorexia and Bulimia nervosa have become predominant among adolescent girls. On the other hand, obesity is continued to be prevalent in US adult population. Weight problem is observed to increase on similar pattern irrespective of sexes and age groups of children and adolescents (Troiano, Flegal, Kuczmarski, Campbell, and Johnson, 1995, p.1085).In twelve years between 1988 and 1991, about 25 to 33 percent increase is observed among US adults (Kuczmarski, Flegal, Campbell and Johnson,1994,p.205)Obesity in these early years is associated with morbidity or even death in adulthood(Nieto, Szklo and Comstock,1992,p.201).Despite the concerns for obesity, trends of becoming overweight are still persistent among our nation(Brownell and Wadden,1992,p.506). During the same time period, despite the reduction in fat consumption, obesity rate reached the double in England during a decade (Prentice and Jebb, 1995, p.437). This discrepancy in weight owes much to the lack of physical activity. In addition to work, leisure time activities are becoming increasingly sedentary, for instance, watching television, video games, and internet surfing. Moreover, in industrialized countries, people are burning less energy in daily activities and work as well (Prentice and Jebb, 1995, p.437). Several studies recommend active routine and lifestyles during childhood and adolescent years in order to ensure optimal growth and development (Cooper, 1994, p.733) Eating habits are developed in early childhood and specifically early adolescence. Education and training at school and home play a vital role in determining children’s food preferences, energy consumption and nutrition intake habits. Adolescents should be made aware about food fads, beauty standards, and reality of slimming commercials. Skipping breakfast is a prevalent habit among teenagers which give rise to lack of nutrition, overeating later in the day, lack of concentration and decreased productivity level. Adolescence is a critical intervention point in life-cycle. It’s an age of higher receptivity to new ideas and options. Lifestyle choices made during these years determine the complete life course of an individual (Adolescent Nutrition,” n.d.).Therefore, ensuring sufficient amount and quality food intake is major concern of today’s nutritionists, health care professionals and parents. In this age of media, television, print and internet play a major role in shaping children and adolescents’ behavior towards food and its importance for their growth and health in adulthood. Work cited “Adolescent Nutrition” (n.d.). Adolescent Nutrition. Retrieved from http://go.worldbank.org/CI6M4FLAT0 Brownell, K.D., & Wadden, T.A. (1992) Etiology and treatment of obesity. J Consult Clin Psychol. 60(4), 505. Cooper, D.M. (1994).Evidence for and mechanisms of exercise modulation of growth. Med Sci Sports Exerc.26 (6), 733. “Child and Adolescent Nutrition” (2006). Child and Adolescent Nutrition. Retrieved from http://www.eufic.org/article/en/page/BARCHIVE/expid/basics-child-adolescent-nutrition/ Cavadini, C., Siega-Riz, A.M., & Popkin, B.M. (2000).US adolescent food intake trends from 1965 to 1996[Abstract]. Arch Dis Child, 83(1), 18-24. Kuczmarski, R.J., Flegal, K.M., Campbell, S.M., & Johnson, C.L. (1994). Increasing prevalence of overweight among US adults: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1960 to 1991. JAMA.272 (3), 205. Nieto, F.J., Szklo, M., &Comstock, G.W. (1992). Childhood weight and growth rate as predictors of adult mortality. Am J Epidemiol.136 (2), p.201. Prentice,A.M.,& Jebb, S.A.(1995). Obesity in Britain: gluttony or sloth? BMJ.311 (7002), 437. Troiano,R.P., Flegal,K.M., Kuczmarski,R.J.,Campbell,S.M.,& Johnson,C.L.(1995).Overweight prevalence and trends for children and adolescents: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1963 to 1991. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.149 (10), 1085. Read More