Definition of nutrition
Nutrition is the state of having optimal level of nutrients.
There are seven major classes of nutrients:
carbohydrates,
fats,
fiber,
minerals,
protein,
vitamins, and
water.
These nutrient classes can be also categorized as either Macro-nutrients or Micro nutrients.
Why adolescent nutrition matter?
Adolescence is a period of a growth spurt
High nutrient need for optimum growth
Period of 50% of adult weight and skeletal mass gain
Period of 20% of adult height gain
Need of replacing the menstrual Iron loss
Improves learning and cognitive ability and help them stay at school
Second window of opportunity to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition
Prevent adolescent pregnancy-related complications and deaths.
Period for adoption and consolidation of proper dietary habits
Prevent chronic diseases like Cardio vascular diseases, cancer and osteoporosis in the future
Adolescents and youth Nutritional Requirements
Requirement influenced by:
Activity level, BMR, growth, and development…increased energy need
Maintenance of existing lean mass and add lean body mass during growth spurt….increased protein need
Additional need (e.g. iron) due to loss and expansion of blood volume and muscle mass
Increased vitamin & minerals needs…calcium, iodine; Zn……sexual maturation, Protein synthesis
Fiber needs….in the prevention of chronic diseases
Pregnant adolescent needs more nutrients due to pregnancy
Factors affecting adolescent nutrition
Food availability and access
Food security at household, access to fast foods
Individual factors: belief, body image perception, preference
Parental: preference, belief, taboos
Social environment: peers, food taboos, gender disparity, beliefs and culture
Mass media and advertisement
Types of malnutrition in Adolescence
Consequences of under nutrition
Negative consequences on individual, community and nations.
On individual and the public:
Effect on health (recurrent illness, weakness, delayed development, poor appetite, low weight for age)
Effect on education (poor learning ability, poor performance at school and poor general health, repeat grades or even drop out)
Effects on productivity (stunted workers are less productive, poor working capacity, resulting in low income are less able to contribute to the national economy)
Intergenerational cycle of under-nutrition
Small girls are likely to become small women who are more likely to be mothers of small babies so that
The malnutrition cycle will continue.
fetal malnutrition involved as a risk factor for chronic diseases in later life (coronary heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and metabolic disease)
Integration Cycle Of Malnutrition
Nutrition Assessment
A tool used to identify those adolescents who are at risk of
under/over-weight/;
micronutrient deficiency; and
to assess related risk factors.
It begins with history and an accurate measurement of height and weight, and calculation of BMI
These data should be plotted on age and sex appropriate WHO growth charts to determine the nutritional status.
The result of this assessment should be accompanied by an in-depth nutritional assessment for those with abnormal results and/or positive risk factors.
A complete and in-depth nutrition assessment should include a survey of all available
medical,
psychosocial and
laboratory data.
Nutritional assessment has three general purposes:-
Detection of deficiency states
Evaluation of nutritional qualities of diets, food habits
Food supplies, prediction of health effects.
There are five common nutritional assessment methods for adolescents:-
Dietary assessment
Anthropometric assessment
Clinical assessment
Biochemical assessment
Sociologic assessment
Steps to plot and BMI-for-age
Step 1: Obtain accurate weights and height measurements
Step 2: Select the appropriate growth chart (based on the age and gender of the child being weighed and measured)
Step3: Record the data
Step 4: Calculate BMI
Step 5: Plot measurements
Nutrition intervention for adolescents
For promotion of normal physical and emotional growth and development,
For prevention of nutrient deficiencies and excess
Should be directed at multiple-risk behaviors
Nutrition education & counseling:
Provide age-appropriate, socially sensitive nutrition advice on healthy eating
Support adolescents sustaining healthy eating behavior
Use nutrition screening results to motivate healthy eating and reduce associated risks
Prevention of iron deficiency anemia and other causes of anemia
Encourage consumption of iron-rich foods through behavior change communication.
Treat and prevent parasitic infections
Provide preventative iron supplementation
Prevention and treatment of malaria
Steps of adolescent nutrition dietary assessment and counseling:
Establish a relationship (confidence building)
Setting the agenda;
Assess current dietary intake or dietary changes made
Interpret dietary intake or change
Determine Readiness to Make Dietary Change
Tailor Interventions Based on Readiness to Change and make appointment
Promotion of healthy eating and Physical Activity:
Helps to optimize health status and promote mental and physical wellbeing.
Adolescents engage in health compromising behaviors such as:
frequent dieting,
meal skipping, and
frequent consumption of foods high in total and saturated fats, sodium and sugar
Physical activity is not common among adolescents.
Meeting the challenge of improving physical activity and dietary habits of adolescents requires the integrated efforts of
parents,
health care providers,
schools,
communities,
the food industry,
policymakers and
the adolescents themselves, all working together to create more opportunities for healthful eating.
SUMMARY
Adolescence is a period of intense growth with high nutritional needs
Carbohydrates, proteins, Iron and calcium are some of the requirements
Underweight, iron deficiency anemia and overweight are common nutritional problems adolescents
Nutritional assessment of adolescent is the first step in nutritional intervention for adolescents
BMI for age is the measurement used for assessment
Adolescence is a period to have a second chance for catch up growth.
Nutritional education and counseling is the approach used to influence adolescent nutrition positively.
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