Adolescence is the age at which physical and hormonal changes occur in the body, due to which the demand for nutrients is increased. To meet this demand, nature is devised such that one has a voracious appetite at this age.
Absorption and metabolism of food are more efficient compared to older adults. As the child grows, there is a greater demand for energy for studies and other activities.
Thus, the nutritional requirement of an adolescent becomes more compared to a small child or adult.
An adolescent already develops food choices by this age and becomes fussy about food. They also like to eat and discuss food with friends, thus influencing another in the choice of food, which is mostly fast food. The net result is that they tend to fill their bellies with junk food with no nutritional value.
There are other issues that hamper the intake of good nutritional food in adolescents. One is the desire to have a figure like a favourite model or film star, during which many adolescents avoid eating and go on crash diets. This problem is more common with young girls. Then they give more thought to personal taste and choices, rather than the nutritious value of a food item.
Under peer pressure, an adolescent may start taking alcohol or drugs. This can impair the nutritional status, along with overall health. Little do these youngsters realise that proper nutrition taken at this stage of life strengthens the body not only presently, but for life.
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A deficiency of vitamin B complex can delay mental development, low vitamin C and protein deficiency cause early fatigue, and vitamin D deficiency leads to impulsiveness and aggression. Undue agitation or depression and tiredness are at times due to nutrient insufficiencies.
Girls attain puberty at this age and menstrual cycles. If iron is taken in inadequate amounts, they tend to develop chronic anaemia. Maximum thickness of bone is also obtained at this stage of life. This means an additional requirement of calcium. Good optimum bone density achieved in adolescence prevents osteoporosis and pathological fractures in old age. Lack of adequate intake of calcium prevents the bones from becoming as dense as required. The result can be aches and pains in the joints from an early age and early softening of bones later in life.
Insufficient intake of green leafy vegetables tends to cause anemia due to folic acid deficiency. It also causes the bowels to become sluggish. This leads to digestive troubles and constipation from young adulthood.
Childhood and adolescent obesity is yet another issue of concern. Well-off adolescents are glued to electronic items during most of their leisure time. They indulge in less physical activity as compared to the potential they have.
Junk food provides many calories, which are not burnt sufficiently. The net result is obesity. To check, many adolescents resort to crash dieting, which is not healthy and deprives them of essential nutrients. To remain healthy for now and throughout life, adolescents have to give attention to their nutrition. Junk food intake should be reduced. Nutritional supplements can never replace food because many micronutrients present in food cannot be replaced by any other means.
Alcohol and tobacco should be avoided. Sodas can be replaced by fresh fruit juices. Snacks made of whole grains, cereals, fruits, etc., would be beneficial.
Adolescents should be taught the value of good nutrition in schools because at this age they are more open to listening to outsiders than their parents. Media can help by projecting the harmful effects of junk food and promoting the use of healthy food. Healthy adolescents mean healthy future citizens.
The writer is a specialist in internal medicine.