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174 6.2 Nutrition for Adolescents
two sexes for a period of time. Growth may not ●● a preoccupation with control of body weight –
cease completely at the end of adolescence and a whether justified or not
height increase of up to 2 cm can still occur
between the ages of 17 and 28 years. Boys will ●● choosing less healthy foods as an act of parental
eventually be on average 14.5 cm taller than girls. defiance and peer solidarity
When growth is assessed on weight-for-age ●● following specific diets to enhance sporting
and height-for-age centile charts it is quite usual prowess.
to see centile crossing for both height and weight
during this growth spurt. This is because the Nutritional Requirements in
charts show an average growth sport at an average Adolescence
age but there is a wide age range in timing of the
growth spurt. During rapid growth, energy and nutrient needs are
higher, as shown in Tables 1.1.1 (page 3), 1.1.4–1.1.6
Emotional Changes and Food (pages 10–11). Appetite increases and parents often
Choices report boys being hungry about an hour after a large
meal. If this increase in appetite is met with nutrient-
During adolescence, teenagers develop their own dense food, then the extra energy and nutrients will be
autonomy, often rejecting their parents’ values in supplied. However, extra snacks are often high-energy,
order to develop their own. Values relating to food low-nutrient foods which may meet energy needs but
and meals are no exception to this and many not the increased need for essential nutrients.
teenagers change their eating habits to be different
from the rest of their family. They may: Boys have higher energy and protein
requirements than girls due to their greater gain in
●● avoid family meals to avoid parental control, height and lean body mass during puberty.
scrutiny and gifts of food – they may say they are Undernutrition in both sexes at this time can
not hungry or ‘I’ll make something for myself’ inhibit bone development, resulting in a lower peak
bone mass and lower height increase velocity,
●● adopt different eating patterns such as leading to stunting. Severe undernutrition can also
vegetarianism or diet to manage weight. delay puberty or halt its progression, as is seen in
cases of severe anorexia nervosa.
It is also a time of experimentation, with little
regard for long-term consequences such as health Vitamins
problems in middle age. Hence they may be drawn
to junk food for its taste appeal and to fall in with Reference Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) for vitamins are
their peer group with no regard for nutritional generally similar to those recommended for adults
consequences. except those for niacin and vitamin B6, which are
slightly higher for 15–18 year olds than for adults.
Their food choices are most likely to be based They are easily available in a balanced diet.
on or influenced by:
All females who could become pregnant are
●● convenience – particularly when eating outside recommended to take a supplement of:
the home
●● 400 µg of folic acid to reduce the risk of fetal
●● preference neural tube defects
●● taste ●● 10 µg of vitamin D to prevent hypocalcaemia in
newborn infants and rickets in older infants and
●● brand name toddlers.
●● fashion and peer group pressure or influence Since many pregnancies in this age group are
unplanned, this advice applies to many adolescent
●● personal ideology, such as the choice of a
vegetarian diet
