Introduction:
Nutrition has a great influence on the growth process of an individual. During late childhood and early adolescence, a person begins to develop at an accelerated rate. At this time, the nutritional value of the food a person consumes becomes very crucial to his or her biological and intellectual development. Failure to consume an adequate diet at this time can disrupt normal growth and pubertal development (Lifshitz, Tarim, & Smith, 1993). The article presented is written to inform the reader of the value that nutrition holds on the development of an adolescent and is written to present a helpful description of the dimensions of adolescence that nutrition influences.
Why is it important for adolescents to obtain a certain amount of energy?
What is the basic nutritional status of an adolescent?
What are the eating styles of these adolescents?
Conclusion:
Nutrition is very important in predicting our health. It is found to be especially relevant in the development of adolescents and the onset of puberty. This article is a brief description of the importance that nutrition portrays throughout the adolescent stage and some of the aspects that are involved in proper diets.
To Read Further . . .
Nutrition is an important part of every individual's life. Nutrition plays
a role in the development of infants, children, adolescents, and adults alike.
It can be defined as poor, adequate, or good depending on the dietary intake
of an individual. Nutritional needs are relevant to people in all socioeconomic
classes but some social classes having less access to proper nutrition than
others. The impact of nutrition on individuals has been the topic of much research.
Humans have different dietary needs at different stages of life. For example,
prenatal care is highly recommended to expectant mothers because it is crucial
that the growing baby receive specific nutrients in order to thrive. Young children
are also encouraged eat from a variety of different food categories in order
to nourish their growing bodies. Adolescents are also in a period of significant
growth and body changes. The body's adjustment to puberty and continued development
requires essential vitamins and minerals to cultivate a healthy individual (Croll,
Neumark-Sztainer, Story, 2001). For this reason it is beneficial to look at
how adolescents think about nutrition and how it influences their lifestyle
choices. It may also prove advantageous to determine how adolescents will be
most positively influenced to make healthy dietary choices.
During adolescence an individual's total nutrient needs reach their highest
point in the life cycle. Healthy eating is important at this stage of life not
only because of the nutritional needs but also because habits formed early in
one's life will most likely carry into adulthood. Healthy diets have been established
in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and can be summarized by the inclusion
of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and minimal saturated fats and
cholesterol (Croll et al., 2001).
The existence of these guidelines does not ensure that adolescents will follow
them or even fully understand them. Adolescent eating trends are influenced
by many outside factors. The dietary practices of family, friends, and societal
norms influence teens eating practices. Many teens participate in problematic
eating patterns consisting of large amounts of fast food and small amounts of
fresh and natural foods.
Adolescence is a time of carefree eating according to the research findings
of surveyed teens. The education of the young person regarding importance of
nutrition appeared to have little influence on the teen's concerns for eating
healthy (Croll et al., 2001).
Adolescent Opinions of Healthy Eating
In a study observing adolescent's knowledge of healthy foods, most teens were able to identify specific food categories they considered nutritious. Common responses to what classified as healthy foods were fruits and vegetables, however some responses simply stated that it is important to eat the right foods. This same group was able to identify specific foods they categorized as unhealthy. This list included specifics like candy, chips, fast food, etc. More generic responses stated that unhealthy foods were made with high amounts of grease and contained artificial ingredients (Croll et al., 2001).
General Pattern of Dietary Choices
Surveyed adolescents stated that unhealthy foods are more easily accessible
in our society. They also offered insight that prepackaged, unhealthy foods
have more visual appeal than healthy foods. Adolescents often equated healthy
foods with lack of taste and unappetizing appearances.
Even in situations where adolescents were aware that they could be making better
food choices they often were not convicted to change. Reasons for eating whatever
they wanted included being young, the celebration of the adolescent metabolism,
and the freedom to make unwise decisions with no immediate obvious consequence.
Teens could readily state the necessary steps to improve one's diet. Examples given ranged from lowering the intake of greasy food and junk food to implementing vitamins and the incorporation of breakfast eating in the diet. Once again, knowledge of healthy eating did not mean the adolescents adhered to these dietary practices (Croll et al., 2001).
A study completed by Mary E. Shaw on the breakfast eating habits of teens revealed that many adolescents skip this essential meal. Various reasons for not eating breakfast were given by teens such as, lack of time in the morning, not being hungry, and simply not feeling like it (Shaw, 1998).
Parental involvement in adolescents eating habits appeared to have a positive
effect on many teen's dietary choices. Eating meals with parents and other adult
relatives was reported to increase the intake of healthy foods for teens. Also
a direct example from Shaw's study highlighted a female adolescent's choice
to begin eating breakfast after her mother explained the benefits of not missing
that meal (Shaw, 1998).
Teens verbalized support for balancing the intake of healthy foods and unhealthy
foods. In this rationalization, young people feel validated in consuming unhealthy
choices if they also include healthy foods in their diet (Shaw, 1998).
Self Influences of Healthy Eating
Benefits of nutritious eating for teens mostly focused on current benefits
rather than long-term profits. They recognized the impact of healthy food choices
on the amount of energy one has to complete a day's tasks. When teens did acknowledge
future health benefits the majority focused on limiting greasy foods which could
potentially lead to heart attacks.
Short-term benefits for teens often focused on having adequate energy to play
sports or the desire to maintain a certain physical appearance. For example,
girls reported increased attention to adhering to healthy eating habits when
they were preparing to go to the prom (Croll et al., 2001).
One hindrance to consuming a higher level of healthy foods was the amount of
time it takes to prepare the food. Adolescents prefer the immediate availability
of fast foods and prepackaged foods over the preparation of healthy foods. Many
were simply unwilling to invest the time in the organization of their diets.
Peer Influence on Eating Habits
The practice of healthy eating in the social context of adolescents and their
peers had a somewhat negative trend. It appears that peer pressure may hinder
some adolescents from choosing healthy foods over unhealthy foods. Healthy food
choices may evoke disapproval from friends in certain social settings. This
example is illustrated by a female adolescent describing her experience, "It's
just like when all your friends are eating chips, and pop, you don't want to
bust out with the carrots and celery" (Croll et al.,2001, p.196).
Examples were also given that focused on social events that teens participate
in with their friends. Adolescents stated that they ate the most unhealthily
while spending time with their friends.
Effectively Influencing Adolescent Eating
Adolescents reported that they were substantially informed about the impact
of nutrition in their lives. It has been shown that although adolescents have
the knowledge of dietary recommendations they are unlikely to follow them. Social
pressures and time factors both influenced the eating habits of teens. Simply
providing teens with more information and even accessibility to healthy foods
is not enough to change their eating habits. Proof of this reality is depicted
by Mary E. Shaw in her study where she states, "breakfast skipping seems
to be a matter of personal choice….Providing free or subsidized meals will
not help those who choose not to eat them" (Shaw, 1998, p.860).
Possible interventions to promote healthy eating habits in adolescents would include attention on peer acceptance and peer promotion of healthy dietary practices. The involvement of adolescents in promoting healthy eating may prove to be more successful due to the influence of peers on eating habits.
Along with the involvement of teens in advocating good health practices, an increase in the availability of healthy foods could be beneficial. The combination of these two factors may result in an increase of healthy food choices by young people. Also, teens will respond more readily if they are presented with short term benefits of following dietary guidelines. To truly target young people, teens need to be very involved in the construction of nutritional interventions. The establishment of peer support for healthy eating may result in the desire of adolescents to adjust and improve their dietary intake of healthy foods.
References:
Nutritional Needs
As an adolescent goes through physical and biochemical changes, there is an increased need for certain vitamins. The following vitamins play significant roles in the growth process of adolescents (Guthrie, 1989):
Trends in the diets of adolescents
Throughout adolescence, the occurrence of inadequate diets is higher than in any other stage of development (Guthrie, 1989).
This lack of nutrients during the stage of adolescence is connected to goiter and dietary practices, anemia, and bone loss.
Sources of Vitamins
Some sources of vitamins are:
To Read Further . . .
Huenneman, R. (1974). Teenage nutrition and physique. Springfield: Charles C. Thomas.
What is obesity?
Is obesity an eating disorder?
What are the parenting styles of obese adolescents?
When examining parenting styles of both the parents and children of this disorder, many of the behaviors are similar to that of anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder on the complete other end of the weight spectrum. There is an "intense parental involvement marked by enmeshment, overprotectiveness, and rigidity (Bruch, 1973).
All of these behaviors exhibited by families make these children emerge from childhood handicapped by feelings of ineffectiveness, dependency, and lack of self-direction. "Many obese adolescents, already feeling ineffective, suffer further damage to their self-esteem through the ridicule they are often subjected. becoming more inactive and withdrawn, many may turn to eating as a form of comfort (Brownwell & Stunkard,1978)."
Treatment
No method has proven to be the most beneficial as of yet. The method voted against is medication surgery since it is the most risky. Behavior modification and therapy are always a sure bet to the initial recovery stage.
For additional information:
For children, adolescents, or even adults with ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, life can seem very unnerving. It is believed that about three to ten percent of the population has ADHD, which is characterized by inconsistencies of behavior, difficulty in paying attention, disorganization, and other physical attributes such as fidgeting. Often times people never even report having ADHD because they do not realize they have the disorder or do not recognize the symptoms associated with it. ADHD, known to affect more boys than girls, is usually acquired through inheritance, but not always (CDI site).
For years, scientists have tried to uncover the origination of ADHD but have been unsuccessful in determining its exact cause. During early research, many myths arose concerning the ADHD child’s home environment, diet, and health. Some believed a child with this disorder came from a dysfunctional family, causing him or her to have attention problems. This myth was dismissed because not all ADHD kids come from dysfunctional homes, and not all dysfunctional families consist of ADHD children. Another myth concerning the child’s diet stated that an excessive intake of sugars, preservatives, or artificial flavorings caused ADHD. Researches have discovered this to be untrue also because these additives have not shown a significant contribution to the cause of ADHD. For instance, not all children who take in excesses of sugars, preservatives, or artificial flavorings acquire the disorder. It is believed, however, that the additives may slightly increase hyperactivity, but they are definitely not the central cause of the disorder. Others theorized the cause of ADHD to be from brain injuries sustained during childhood. Again, a lack of sufficient evidence resulted in the dismissal of this hypothesis (NIHM site).
Due to this previous research, today’s world of technology has yielded many new discoveries concerning ADHD. A new brain scan called the PET, or Positron Emission Tomography scanner, has revolutionized the study of the brain and the effects of chemicals upon it. By injecting radioactive material into the brain, the levels of glucose in certain areas of the brain can be measured. PET scan comparisons between the brain of a normal child and the brain of an ADHD child show a significant difference between the two. Since glucose is the brain’s main energy source, it can give researchers a sense of the activity level of the brain according to these scan reports. Scientists have found that particular brain regions which inhibit impulses and control attention actually use less glucose in the brain of an ADHD child, meaning the areas are less active than normal. This decreased activity in the brain leads to inattention in the child’s behavior (NIMH site). Researchers believe the inactivity in the brains of ADHD children is associated with neurotransmitters that lack the ability to send complete chemical messages across synapses. Often, activity levels mostly affect the attention, concentration, planning, and organization areas of the brain, which is why glucose could be a link to ADHD. Furthermore, ADHD children who are given medication to correct the chemical instability in their brains show more normal PET scans than ADHD children not on the medication (CDI site).
Researchers are also continuing to look into the possible effects of drug use, toxemia, and other complications seen during pregnancies as causes of ADHD. After birth, such things as meningitis, seizures, and even lead toxicity are being questioned (CDI sites). As of now, there are no concrete explanations for ADHD, but hopefully further improvements in technology will aid in discovering the true secret to this baffling disorder.
REFERENCES:
This site was produced by students taking HDFS 433: The Transition to Adulthood and HDFS 239: Adolescent Development at the Pennsylvania State University. Feedback can be sent to the individual authors or to Nancy Darling (darling@bard.edu).
Last updated 5/07/02.