The Impact of Nutrition on Age Groups - Essay Example

The Impact of Nutrition on Age Groups As our body ages we go through phases of development that require unique nutritional needs. The development of the brain, the muscles, and the long term health of our cardio-vascular system require specific attention and appropriate amounts of each food group. Failure to adjust our diet as we age can result in the increased levels of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity that are prevalent in our society today. Each age group, children, teenagers, and the elderly have their own individual requirements. Fat in a childs diet lays the foundation for future health as well as developing healthy eating habits. Teenagers require protein during their years of high activity and rapid growth to assure healthy muscle growth and tissue formation. The elderly are susceptible to osteoporosis and loss of bone mass due to a lack of calcium in the diet. Getting the correct amount of fat, protein, and calcium has a significant impact on children, teenagers, and the elderly and is essential for good health. From the moment a baby is born until the age of five the brain goes through substantial growth that is aided by the amounts and types of fat consumed. People have become more aware of the fat consumed by children and its correlation to childhood obesity. The latest trend in diets for children includes a low fat component, but there have been concerns about its effect on long-term brain development. Seventy five percent of the brain’s development takes place in the first three years of a child’s life (Rask-Nissila et al., 2000, p.999). During this period it is essential that children get adequate fat to aid in the proper development of the brain. Current USDA guidelines call for a fat intake of between 30 and 40 percent of the total calories during the first year and gradually decreasing to 30 to 35 percent by age 4 (Gidding et al., 2006, p.546). Increasing the fat level beyond this point may lead to childhood obesity, and Rask-Nissila et al. (2000) suggests that, “children with high serum cholesterol values are predisposed to atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD) later in life” (p.993). Lowering the level below 30 percent has been a cause of concern for brain development or other neurological health issues. It is known that children who are malnourished during their first year of life develop acute intelligence deficiencies as a teenager (Rask-Nissila et al., 2000, p.999). While lowering the serum cholesterol level in children by a moderate amount may not result in any neurological problems, children with elevated levels of fat and cholesterol in the bloodstream are often placed on highly restricted diets that fall well below 23 percent of their calories from fat (Rask-Nissila et al., 2000, p.999-1000; Kaistha, Deckelbaum, Starc, & Couch, 2001, p.1227). In addition, other factors such as physical activity also impact the fat requirements in a child’s diet. The greatest threat from an inappropriate amount of fat in a child’s diet is the over-zealous attempt to reduce fat in the diet. Kaistha et al. (2001) suggests professional guidance and intervention to assure that over-restriction does not occur in children with elevated levels of cholesterol (p.1229). As children enter their teenage years, the amount of protein in their diet takes on special significance. The teenage years see growth spurts and puberty, which greatly alter the body’s height, weight, and bone mass (Spear, 2002, p.S24). Just as fat intake needs to be closely monitored in young children, protein needs to be carefully adjusted in the healthy teenage diet. Protein is responsible for healthy muscle and tissue growth, but also can supply energy when needed. Typically the optimal intake of protein for boys will increase with an increase in caloric intake. The average diet for a twelve year old will be 2500 calories and 45 grams of protein, but by age 16 the calories are increased to 3000 and protein is raised to 59 grams (Spear, 2002, p.S26). However, these figures are only average and should be adjusted for size, growth phase, and physical activity (Spear, 2002, p.S26). Failure to account for these influences in a teenager’s diet can cause significant long-term harm. One of the aspects of protein that needs to be accounted for is its ability to be used as energy or as a building block for muscle and tissue. If the adolescent is on a fat restricted diet, there is a concern that the protein will be needed for energy. According to Spear (2002), “…if energy intake becomes insufficient for any reason (eg, food security, chronic illness, or attempts to lose weight), dietary protein may be used to meet energy need and be unavailable for syntheses of new tissue or for tissue repair” (p.S27). Social pressures to lose weight among teenage girls can be especially problematic during this period of rapid growth associated with puberty. Alternatively, diets that are too high in protein, such as used by bodybuilders and athletes, may lead to kidney failure or renal disease (Martin, Armstrong, & Rodriguez, 2005, p.2). The healthy diet must consider the various aspects of a teenager’s life that impact their protein needs. Calcium is a mineral that is necessary for the formation of bone as a person grows, and is necessary to maintain bone mass as the person becomes elderly. Osteoporosis is the hardening of the bones due to a lack of calcium in the diet or the body’s inability to utilize the existing calcium. A study by Ilich, Brownbill, and Tamborini (2003) confirmed the relationship between calcium and bone mass in elderly women, but also noted that it is only one of several nutrients that interact to build strong bones (p.564). Osteoporosis has become a major public health concern and it has been reported that it is the single most contributing factor to bone fractures in the elderly (Murphy, Khaw, May, & Compston, 1994). Calcium intake typically is low in elderly women and “Calcium supplements reduce the rate of bone loss in osteoporotic patients. Some recent studies have reported a significant positive effect of calcium treatment not only on bone mass but also on fracture incidence” (Gennari, 2001). Increasing the intake of calcium may help prevent brittle bones and loss of bone mass in the elderly population. While milk consumption, a major source of calcium for younger people, may be reduced in the elderly population, calcium supplements can help provide the necessary level of this vital mineral. In conclusion, it is clear that we need to adjust our diets as we age to accommodate for the changes in the body’s growth and development. Social factors and poor food choices have resulted in higher levels of childhood obesity and elevated levels of cholesterol in children. An over-zealous attempt to restrict the fat in a child’s diet can result in poor brain development and present signs of lower intelligence as the child reaches their teenage years. It is recommended that children who have a high cholesterol level seek professional guidance when reducing the fat in the diet to assure there is a proper balance. As the child grows into the teenage years, protein intake becomes a critical factor. Fad diets that restrict protein intake can cause long-term harm to the teenager’s muscle and tissue development. When the body has an energy deficiency problem, the protein will be converted to energy and not be available for tissue growth. Proper balance is essential as too much protein during these years can cause kidney failure and renal disease. As healthy adults age into their later years, osteoporosis becomes a problem due to a lack of calcium. Brittle bones are the number one cause of fractures in the elderly and are often the result of osteoporosis. Calcium supplements for the elderly can reduce the incidence of osteoporosis, and help maintain proper bone mass and density. At each stage of life there are critical components of the diet. It is essential that the diet be tailored for the individual based on age and other factors such as growth phase, exercise, height, and weight. It is essential to maintain the proper balance of these necessary dietary components throughout our lifetime. References Gennari, C. (2001). Calcium and vitamin D nutrition and bone disease of the elderly. Public Health Nutrition [Abs], 4(2B), 547-559. Retrieved May 6, 2008, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11683549 Gidding, S. S. et al.(2006). Dietary recommendations for children and adolescents: A guide for practitioners. Pediatrics, 117(2), 544-559. Ilich, J. Z., Brownbill, R. A., & Tamborini, L. (2003). Bone and nutrition in elderly women: protein, energy, and calcium as main determinants of bone mineral density [Electronic version]. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 57, 554-565. from Nature. Kaistha, A., Deckelbaum, R. J., Starc, T. J., & Couch, S. C. (2001). Overrestriction of dietary fat intake before formal nutritional counseling in children with hyperlipidemia [Electronic version]. Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 155, 1225-1230. Martin, W. F., Armstrong, L. E., & Rodriguez, N. R. (2005). Dietary protein intake and renal function. Nutrition & Metabolism, 1-9. Retrieved May 6, 2008, from http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/pdf/1743-7075-2-25.pdf Murphy, S., Khaw, K., & Compston, J. E. (1994). Milk consumption and bone mineral density in middle aged and elderly women [Electronic version]. British Medical Journal, 308(6934), 939-941. from Ovid. Rask-Nissila, L. et al. (2000). Neurological development of 5-year-old children receiving a low–saturated fat, low-cholesterol diet since infancy [Electronic version]. JAMA, 284(8), 993-1000. Spear, B. A. (2002). Adolescent growth and development [Electronic version]. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 102(3), S23-S29. from Elseveir. Read More