Download Childhood and Adolescence

Chapter 11
Nutrition Through the Life-Span:
Childhood & Adolescence
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Early & Middle Childhood
• After age 1 growth rate slows
• Body continues to change rapidly
• Bones grow longer; muscles gain
size & strength
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Energy & Nutrient Needs
• Children’s appetites
 Decline markedly
around the first
birthday
 Thereafter, they
fluctuate
 Food energy intakes
vary from meal to
meal
 Daily energy
remains constant
• Energy
 Kcal needs depend
on growth & activity
• 1 year = 800/day
• 6 years = 1600/day
• 10 years = 2000/day
 9 million children
over age 6 are obese
 Vegans may have
trouble meeting
energy needs
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Early & Middle Childhood
• Nutrients
• Food Patterns
 Are steadily
increased
 Important to
accumulate stores
of nutrients before
adolescence
 Influences
nutritional health for
a lifetime
 Variety of foods from
each food group
 Increased calcium & fiber
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
My Pyramid
for Children
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Children’s Food Choices
• Need to be nutritious & appealing
• Limit candy, cola, & other concentrated
sweets
 Nutrient deficiencies
 Obesity
• Underweight children can have higher
kcalorie foods
 Ice cream, pudding, whole wheat or
enriched crackers or pancakes
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Malnutrition in Children
• Prevalent in verylow-income families
• 13 million children
are food insecure
• WIC, School
Breakfast & National
School Lunch
Program help
• Effects of hunger
 Short term
• Short attention span
• Irritable
• Apathetic & uninterested
 Long term
• Impaired growth &
immune system
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Hunger & School
Performance
• Children who eat
breakfast function
better
• No breakfast





More overweight
Poorer concentration
Shorter attention span
Lower test scores
Tardy or absent more
often
• Child must eat every
4-6 hours to
maintain blood
glucose
• Liver cannot store
more than 4 hours
worth of glycogen
• Low blood glucose
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Iron Deficiency
• Deficiency and
behavior
• Prevention
 Energy crisis
 Affects mood,
attention span, &
learning ability
 More conduct
disturbances
 Affects brain before
anemia develops
 Need 7-10 mg/day
 Milk intakes must be
limited after infancy
 Eat lean meats, fish,
poultry, eggs, &
legumes
 Also whole-grain or
enriched breads &
cereals
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Other Nutrient Deficiencies
• Any other missing or deficient
nutrients can cause behavioral &
physical symptoms
Irritable, aggressive, disagreeable,
sad or withdrawn
Labeled hyperactive, depressed, or
unlikable
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Lead Poisoning in Children
• Can cause an iron
deficiency
• Mild toxicity
 Diarrhea, irritability,
anemia, & fatigue
• Severe toxicity
 Irreversible nerve
damage, paralysis,
mental retardation,
death
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Food Allergies
• Only 6% of children
• Diminishes with age
• Whole food protein
or large molecule
enters the body &
acts like an antigen
• Antibodies are
produced
• Food intolerance
 Does not involve
the immune
system
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Food Allergies
• Asymptomatic &
symptomatic
allergies
 May produce
antibodies & have
no symptoms
 If no antibodies it
is not an allergy
• Symptoms
 Nausea &
vomiting (GI)
 Rashes (skin)
 Inflammation or
asthma (nasal
passages & lungs)
 Anaphylactic
shock (all body
systems)
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Food Allergies
• Immediate &
• Symptoms of
delayed reactions
anaphylactic shock
can occur
 Tingling in mouth,
swelling of tongue &
• Anaphylactic shock
 Peanuts, tree nuts,
milk, eggs, wheat,
soybeans, fish, or
shellfish
 Peanuts are #1
throat
 Difficulty breathing
 Hives swelling, rashes
 Vomiting & diarrhea
 Decreased BP, loss of
consciousness, death
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Food Allergies
• Food Labeling
• Other adverse reactions
 As of 2006, food labels
 Monosodium glutamate
must indicate the
 Natural laxatives in prunes
presence of the 8
 Symptoms of GI problems
major food allergens
 Lactose & other intolerances
 Equipment must be
 Psychological reactions
scrupulously cleaned
to prevent cross• Food dislikes
contamination
 May be nature’s way of
protecting against an
allergy
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Hyperactivity
• Affects behavior &
learning in 5-10%
of young children
• No cure
• Behavior
modification,
special education,
psych counseling,
drug therapy
• Not caused by poor
nutrition
• Lack of sleep,
overstimulation, too
much TV or video
games, too much
caffeine, lack of
physical activity
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Food Choices & Eating
Habits of Children
• Mealtimes at home • Honoring children’s
preferences
 Should appeal to
children’s tastes &
provide needed
nutrients
 Should also nurture
child’s self-esteem &
well-being
 Sets the stage for
lifelong attitudes &
habits
 Favor brown peanut
butter, white potatoes,
apple wedges, & bread
 Like raw vegetables
 Warm not hot food
 Mild flavors with no lumps
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Avoiding Power Struggles
• Don’t force to try
new foods
• Don’t offer
rewards to try
new foods
• Don’t restrict
them from eating
favorite foods
• Offer 1 new food at
a time
• Small amounts
• Need 5-10
exposures to
enhance preference
• New food at
beginning of meal
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Mealtimes at Home
• Television’s
influence
• Preventing choking
 Adversely affects
children’s nutritional
health
 Watchers tend to be
overweight
 Snack on advertised
fattening foods
 Child needs to sit
when eating
 Do not let them run
with food in the
mouth
• Play first
• Child participation
 Let them help plan
& prepare meals
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Meals at Home
• Snacks
 Teach them about
healthy snacks
 Pieces of cheese,
sliced strawberries,
cooked baby
carrots, egg salad
on whole-wheat
crackers
• Preventing dental
caries
 Teach to brush & floss
after meals, rinse with
water after snacks,
avoid sticky snacks,
select crisp or fibrous
foods
• Parents need to
serve as role models
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Nutrition at School
• School Breakfast
• School Lunch
 Most are from lowincome families
 Provides a minimum of
• 1 serving milk
• 1 serving fruit or
vegetable or full-strength
juice
• 2 servings of bread or
alternate
• Two servings of meat or
alternate or 1 of each
 Free or at a reduced
price
 Provides at least 1/3
of recommendations
for energy, protein,
vitamin A & C, iron, &
calcium
 Must follow Dietary
Guidelines for
Americans
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Competing Influences at School
• Why don’t students eat
school lunch?
Short lunch periods, long
waiting lines
Competitive meals from
fast-food restaurants, a la
carte foods or foods from
snack bars, school stores,
& vending machines
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
The Teen Years
• Physical changes
increase nutrient
needs
• Meeting emotional,
intellectual, & social
needs is
challenging
• Make more choices
for themselves
• Social pressures
 Alcohol
 Extreme body ideals
 Will try latest fad diet
to effect immediate
changes
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Growth & Development
• Growth speeds up
abruptly &
dramatically
• Adolescent growth
spurt
 Duration of 2 ½ yrs
 Males: 12-13 yrs
 Females: 10-11 yrs
• Males
 Greater muscle &
bone
 8 inches taller
 45 pounds heavier
• Females
 More fat
 6 inches taller
 35 pounds heavier
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Teen Years
• Energy & nutrient
needs vary depending
on rate of growth,
gender, body
composition, &
physical activity
• Obesity
 15% of U.S.
children &
adolescents age 619 are overweight
• Vitamins
 Need more vitamin D
to increase calcium
absorption
• Iron
 Increases for both
genders
• Calcium
 Requirements peak
 Need more milk
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Food Choices & Health Habits
• Many skip breakfast
• Teens have
irregular eating
• Need to have
nutritious, easy to
habits
grab food in the
• Rely on quick
refrigerator
snacks or fast food
 Meats for sandwiches
• Only 1/3 of teens
 Low-fat cheeses
eat evening meals
 Fresh raw vegetables &
fruits
at home
 Fruit juice & milk
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Teen Eating Habits
• Snacks
• Beverages
 ¼ of daily energy
 Most are too high in
saturated fat &
sodium & low in fiber
 Also low calcium,
iron, & vitamin A
 Frequently drink soft
drinks with lunch,
supper, & snacks
• Linked to weight gain
• Caffeine may become a
problem
 Milk consumption is
decreased
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Teen Nutrition
• Eating away from
home
 1/3 of all meals
are not eaten at
home
 Other meals need
to consist of
• Peer influence
 Teens are making
their own nutrition
decisions
 Peer influence is
great during this
time in their lives
• Fresh fruits &
vegetables
• Lean meats &
legumes
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Problems Adolescents Face
• Marijuana
 Almost ½ of high
school students report
trying this drug
 It promotes “the
munchies”
• Cocaine
 Craving replaces
hunger
 Weight loss is
common
• Ecstasy
 Can damage brain
cells, increase
heart rate & raise
body temperature
 Lose weight
• Drug Abuse in
General
 Produces multiple
nutrition problems
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Problems Adolescents Face
• Alcohol
• Smoking
 By the end of high
school
• 77% of students
have tried it
• About ½ have been
drunk once
 Provides energy but
no nutrients
 Every day, 3000 young
people start smoking
 It eases feelings of hunger
 Smokers have lower
intakes of fiber, vitamin A
& C, beta-carotene, &
folate
• Smokeless tobacco
 Produces bad breath,
stained teeth, blunted
sense of smell & taste
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Nutrition in Practice
Childhood Obesity & the Early
Development of Chronic Diseases
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Childhood Health Problems
• Obesity in children is causing
an increased prevalence of:
Type 2 diabetes
Hypertension
• Due to overeating, inactivity,
& smoking
• Leads to cardiovascular
disease in adulthood
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Some Potential Causes
• Genetics
• Events during fetal
development
 Does not appear
to play a
determining role
 Appears to play a
permissive role
 Theory: malnutrition
during a critical period of
fetal development may
promote a tendency
toward obesity later in life
 Lower birth weight
increases risk of adult
hypertension
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Type 2 Diabetes
• Obesity is the
most important
risk factor
• 85% of children
diagnoses with
type 2 diabetes
are obese
• Consequences
 High blood
pressure
 High blood lipids
 Atherosclerosis
 Early CVD, kidney
disease,
blindness, &
miscarriages
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Children’s Blood
Cholesterol
• As blood cholesterol increases,
atherosclerotic lesions increase
• Blood cholesterol rises as
saturated fat intake increases
• Blood cholesterol correlates with
childhood obesity, especially
central obesity
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Hypertension in Children
• Accelerates the
development of
atherosclerosis
• Need regular aerobic
activity and weight loss
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Epidemic of Obesity
• In past 30 years,
prevalence in U.S.
 Has doubled for
young children &
adolescents
 Has tripled for
children 6-11 yrs
• Eating more sugar &
more kcalories
• Exercising less
• Prevention
 Eat slowly and enjoy
companions
 Stop eating when full
 Don’t force to clean
their plate
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
Dietary Recommendations
• Do not limit fat & cholesterol for
infants & children under two
• Older children need to replace
high-fat foods with
Low-fat choices
More fruits & vegetables
Nuts, vegetable oils, light canned
tuna or salmon, low-fat milk
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth
How to Turn the Tide of Obesity
• Don’t smoke
• Follow the Dietary
Guidelines for
Americans 2005
• Follow the USDA
Food Guide
• Be physically
active each day
• Adults need to be
role models for
healthy behaviors
© 2007 Thomson - Wadsworth