The Nutrition Magazine | Page 11

9 | Nutrition Magazine October 20 1 5 Adolescent Nutrition Adolescent is the period of life between children and adulthood. It is the period of growth and physical maturation. During this stage the growth include horizontal and vertical growth that is change in both height and weight. Alteration in body composition and enlargement of organs in evident, they also develop psychosocially and intellectually. All these above considerations have a bearing in health status with regards specifically to nutrition. Are t hey are vul nerabl e nut rit ional l y? Increased nutritional requirementstremendous growth spur is during this time and is related to sexual growth rate and maturity. Freedom of choices- they always command space to choose and to be heard. Hence lead to fad diets or junkies at some time due to euphoria by peers. Pregnancy in adolescent- cannot be The adolescent period is accompanied with ignored due to competition with the also considerable stress due to physiological and growing fetus for nutrients. psychological changes, attitude towards diet. Sports and leisure ? play is part of Boys may want to eat to be strong, tall and development and very healthy for exercise masculine where as girls will omit food to but not at the expense of eating remain lean and in perceived good body something. They sometime forget even to shape. eat since they are in a finding out stage. Therefore boys dietary habits will be Abuse of drugs- Good parenting is very receptive where as the girls will have a self conscious habit in light of their figure, shape, important! The drugs normally leads to depressed appetite, loss of interest in food to avoid being tagged as fat by peers. Complexion, pimples and stretch marks are when high, competing interest when buying drugs, medicine nutrition often associated with certain foods items interaction during treatment and drugs making them to withdraw from these food increases metabolic requirement of the items or even eating all together. body.