Transcript Ch30GrowingYears

Judith E. Brown
www.cengage.com/nutrition/brown
Nutrition for the Growing Years:
Childhood through Adolescence
Unit 30
Prof. Albia Dugger • Miami-Dade College
Growth and Development
• Physical and mental development proceed at
a high rate from infancy to adolescence
• These formative years lay the foundation for
the rest of life
The Nutritional Foundation
• Children’s diets during the early years:
• Supply energy and nutrients for growth
• Teach children about food choices
• May have long-term effects on the risk of
developing a number of diseases later in life
Characteristics of Growth
Characteristics of Growth
Characteristics of Growth
Characteristics of Growth
Characteristics of Growth
Characteristics of Growth
Characteristics of Growth
Characteristics of Growth
Characteristics of Growth
Growth Spurts
Growth Spurts
CDC’s Growth Charts
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) growth
charts for 2- to 20-year-olds are used to
monitor growth progress
•
•
•
•
Weight for age
Height for age
Weight for height
Body mass index (BMI) for age
www.cdc.gov/growthcharts
CDC’s Growth Charts
• Growth charts are expressed in percentiles
• Children in highest and lowest weight percentiles
should be evaluated
• BMIs for age must be calculated
• 85th - 95th percentiles at risk for overweight
• > 95th percentile at risk for obesity
How to Calculate BMI
Food Jags and Appetite Changes
• At times, children may eat very little, or only a
few favorite foods
• Allow children to choose how much to eat, as
long as growth continues normally and
children are in good health
Hunger and Irritability
• Being hungry can make children irritable
• Gently offer food to a cranky child who has
skipped a meal or played too long
Adolescent Growth Spurt
• Adolescent growth spurt:
• Girls age 9-12
• Boys age 12-14
• During these years, teens gain:
• 50% of adult weight
• 20-25% of adult height
• 45% of total bone mass
Growth at Age 12 and Age 19
Predicting or Influencing Adult Height
• Children tend to achieve adult heights
between those of their parents
• Height also depends on calorie, protein, and
other nutrient intakes – and overall health
• People in economically developed countries
are continuing to grow taller
Overweight and Risk
• Overweight and related disorders in
adolescents have risen since the 1960s
•
•
•
•
Type 2 diabetes
Bone and joint disorders
Abnormal blood lipids
Elevated blood pressure
Overweight US Children
Causes of Overweight in Youth
• “Obesigenic” trends:
•
•
•
•
Little physical activity
Plentiful energy-dense foods
Empty-calorie snacks
Large portion sizes
Obesity Treatments
• Stomach stapling and diet drugs are used
increasingly in children and adolescents –
sometimes with serious side effects
• The “cure” for obesity in children and
adolescents is prevention
Prevention of Overweight
• Healthy food choices in schools, fast-food
restaurants, and at home
• At least 60 minutes/day of moderate to
vigorous (not intense or high-impact) physical
activity
Recommended Activities
Food Preferences
• Children have few inborn preferences
• Preference for sweet taste
• Genetic sensitivity to bitter tastes
• Most food preferences are learned, based on
foods they are given
• New foods should be offered several times
• No food should be forced or prohibited
Food Preferences
• Likes and dislikes are almost totally shaped
by the learning environment
Good Diets for
Children and Adolescents
Good Diets
Good Snacks
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Yogurt
Cheese
Low-fat milk
Nuts, seeds
Pears
Melons
Bananas
Oranges
Apples
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dried fruit
Mangos
Grapes
Carrots
Cucumbers
Popcorn
Peanuts
Cherry tomatoes
Peanut butter
Good Snacks
Fat Intake
• Recommended fat intake for children and
adolescents: 25-35% of total calories
• As little saturated and trans fat as possible
• Increase omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA
Milk Is Good For Children
Status of Diets
• Children and adolescents consume:
• Too few fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Too little calcium and vitamin D
• About half the recommended intake of dietary
fiber
Early Diet and Later Disease
• Diet-related factors influence disease
development later in life
• High LDL/low HDL cholesterol → heart disease
• High sodium diets → hypertension
• Low calcium and vitamin D → osteoporosis
• Childhood obesity leads to diabetes, heart
disease, some cancers, and hypertension