Nutrition through the Lifecycle - Adolescence Flashcards
Describe the period of adolescence
- ages 11 - 21
- period of physical (puberty) and psychological development.
- typically a period of rebellion, independence and risk taking behaviour
What are some social changes occurring during adolescence that might affect dietary behaviour?
- peer pressure
- relationships
- financial dependency on parents
- more freedom and flexibility
What are some psychological changes occurring during adolescence that might affect dietary behaviour?
- search for independence
- rebellion/risk taking behaviours
What are some physical changes occurring during puberty that might affect dietary behaviour?
acne
rapid growth/development - change in body composition
puberty
What is the effect of adolescence on bone health?
What factors can influence bone health during adolescence?
bone growth occurs most rapidly during adolescence
factors affecting bone health during adolescence:
- genetics
- physical activity
- eating disorders
- nutrient intake e.g., Vit D & calcium
- hormones e.g., estrogen
What 3 cells are responsible for bone turnover and what are their roles?
osteoblasts - lay down new bone through remineralisation
osteoclasts - demineralise bone to break it down
osteocytes - matured osteoblasts
What is an affect of heavy drinking under the age of 21?
abnormalities in brain development such as:
- motivation
- reasoning
- interpersonal interactions
At what ages does protein demand peak in adolescent girls and boys?
boys - 15-18 years
girls - 11-14 years
List some potential nutrition-related concerns that arise during adolescence (8 things)
- low calcium intake
- iron deficiency anaemia
- disordered eating
- obesity
- hypertension
- dieting/weight control
- vegetarianism/veganism
- acne
Why might calcium intake decrease during adolescence?
What is the RNI of calcium for adolescent girls and boys?
calcium intake decreases due to the increased consumption of fizzy drinks and the association of drinking milk as childish or fattening.
girls - 1000mg (22% of adolescent females meet this RNI)
boys - 800mg
Why might prevalence of eating disorders increase during adolescence?
- peer pressure to engage in diet behaviours e.g., skipping meals, laxative use
- physical changes due to puberty
- low self esteem
- pressure from school e.g., exams.
Describe the role of diet in the management of acne.
Acne is a multifactorial condition but genetics are considered a key factor.
Diet has been linked to aggravating acne
Some evidence to support a high GI diet in aggravates acne
describe the mechanism behind high GI foods increasing the risk of developing acne
high GI foods = high insulin
high insulin = high androgen production = increased sebum production
infection of sebaceous glands = acne
What advice is given to adolescents regarding diet and exams?
- Complex CHO in diet increases serotonin production
- Avoid caffeine
- eat low GI foods and snacks to maintain adequate blood glucose levels
