Nutrition

Child & Adolescent Nutrition

•Differs from adult nutrition.

•Infancy needs

•Toddlers

•Adolescents

(Story & Stang, 2005)

Nutritional Needs

•Iron is important ▫From toddlers to teenagers

•Special dietary needs for teenagers:▫This is a time of growth spurts

20% of adult height 50% of adult weight

Iron Deficiency & Anemia

•What is anemia?

•Symptoms:▫Fatigue / weakness▫Pale skin▫Rapid heartbeat▫Irritability▫Decreased appetite▫Dizziness / Lightheadedness

Preventing Anemia

•Foods rich in iron▫Red meat, tuna, salmon, eggs, enriched

grains, leafy green vegetables, fortified foods

•May need a supplement

•Recommended amounts:▫7-10 mg/day for children 1-12 years old▫11 mg/day for adolescent boys; 15 mg/day

for girls

Teenagers and Calcium

•Teenagers need calcium to build strong bones▫Calcium is also important for muscle

contractions

•The osteoporosis connection…▫Why talk about this in a child & adolescent

health class??

Osteoporosis

•1 of every 2 American women will get osteoporosis after the age of 65.

•Why worry about teenagers?▫Less than half of teenagers get enough

calcium in their diet. For girls – about 15% get enough calcium.

The teenage years are the time to build strong bones

Soda consumption & Osteoporosis•Girls who drank soft drinks: 3x more

likely to have a bone fracture▫Physically active girls: 5x more likely to

have a bone fracture

▫Why? Phosphoric acid Less calcium consumption

Source: Harvard School of Public Health

Who is at risk?

•Those who do not get enough calcium

•Females•Those with high soft drink consumption

•Those who do not exercise

•Caucasians and Asians

•Family history•Smoking•Alcohol

Prevention

•Eating calcium-rich foods▫Dairy products, calcium-fortified orange

juice, leafy green vegetables, canned salmon or tuna

▫May need a calcium supplement•Weight-bearing exercises•Limit soft drink consumption•Don’t smoke

•Notice anything about this list?

“Selling” it to teenagers

•Make it beneficial in the short term▫May need to relate it to body image

“Calcium will help you grow taller” “Do you know those older people that are

stooped over?” Low-fat, non-fat alternatives for those

worried about gaining weight.

Eating Disorders

Teenagers & Dieting

•Over ½ of teenage girls and 1/3 of teen boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors. ▫ (Neumark-Sztainer, 2005)

▫These behaviors include: Skipping meals Fasting Smoking cigarettes to control weight Vomiting Taking laxatives

Teens & Body Image• 50-88% of adolescent girls

feel negatively about their body size and shape.

• Over 1/3 of males think their current size is too small.

• Puberty can amplify body image concerns.

• (Croll, 2005)

The Female Athlete Triad

•What is it?▫Disordered eating▫Bone loss▫Amenorrhea

•Who is at risk?

•Consequences?

Teenagers & Eating Disorders•Approximately 11 million Americans

suffer from an eating disorder. (EDC, 2010)

•50-80% of risk is determined by genetics. (ECD, 2010)

•Three classes:• Anorexia Nervosa• Bulimia Nervosa• Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified

(EDNOS)• Includes Binge Eating Disorder

Eating Disorders & Media•Tweens & Teens are more likely to be

dissatisfied with their bodies after watching media.

•Movies & Television shows often have characters comment on appearance/weight.

•Advertisements often use an appeal to beauty to sell the product.

▫ National Institute on Media and the Family

Anorexia Nervosa• Self-starvation

▫Essential nutrients are denied (no or little food) so the body slows down all normal processes to conserve energy.

• Health consequences▫Low blood pressure / heart rate▫Muscle loss / weakness▫Dehydration▫Fainting / fatigue▫Dry hair and skin

•90-95% are female so, 5-10% are male.•Similar characteristics:

▫Preoccupied with weight Males may have preoccupation with body

building, weight lifting or toning.▫Compulsive exercise▫Frequently weighing oneself▫Distorted body image

Bulimia Nervosa

•Typically a binge – purge method▫Binge – secret periods of quickly eating

high-calorie dense foods.▫Purge – more than the typical vomiting.

•80% are female•Health consequences:

▫Irregular heartbeat = heart failure = death.

▫Tooth decay▫Ulcers

Warning Signs• Anorexia

▫ Becomes very thin▫ Obsesses over eating,

food, weight▫ Counts portions, calories

carefully▫ Only eats certain foods▫ Feels fat▫ Withdraws from social

activities▫ May be depressed,

fatigued or cold all the time

• Bulimia▫ Fears weight gain▫ Intensely unhappy with

body size, shape or weight

▫ Goes to the bathroom frequently or immediately after meals

▫ Regularly buys laxatives▫ Spends most of free time

working out▫ Withdraws from social

activities

Prevention

•Involves everyone:▫Parents, communities, schools

•Examine your own body image

•Avoid power struggles over food

•Create a healthy lifestyle for the family

More information

•“Dying to be thin” www.pbs.org▫Nova program