Nutrition in Children and Adolescents (IV)
5.3. Food habits
Why is it so important regularity in eating habits and take snacks between meals?
Eating habits that influence food preferences, consumption of energy and nutrient intakes, develop normally during childhood, and particularly during adolescence. The family and school environment is very important when determining the child’s attitude towards certain foods and their consumption.
Adolescents also be exposed to temporary food fads and trends to lose weight, often skipping meals and develop irregular eating habits. One meal that is most often skipped breakfast. Studies show that breakfast is vital to provide energy and nutrients after an overnight fast, and contributes to greater concentration and performance in school.
Snacks between meals are part of the eating habits of children and adolescents. Young children are not able to eat large amounts at once, so normally they are hungry long before you reach the next scheduled time for the food. The mid-morning snacks and afternoon can help meet the energy needs required throughout the day. The teenagers, who are active and grow rapidly, with major energy and nutrient needs, but if you include food and nutrition materials in their school curricula, may have enough knowledge to make informed decisions about the food they take to the hours main meals and between meals.
5.4. Energy needs
Typically, the energy requirements of adolescents tend to rely on their fast growth, and each must assess these needs according to your appetite. As a result, most teenagers keeps energy balance and food consumption varied provides sufficient nutrients for their growth and development are optimal.
However, stress and emotional disorders can seriously affect the energy balance in adolescents, resulting in insufficient or excessive consumption of food. Mild or severe infections, nervousness, menstrual problems, dental or skin (acne) are factors that may cause an alteration of appetite, and adolescents who consume poor diets are most vulnerable. Emotional stress is often associated with food fads and fashion to be thin, which can lead to eating disorders like anorexia nervosa.
On the other hand, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents has become today one of the major nutritional problems as it is very likely to continue to affect them into adulthood. Adolescents who are developing are particularly concerned about body image and excess weight can have a profound impact on their emotional and physical health. Several factors, socioeconomic, biochemical, genetic and psychological factors that cause obesity and they are all closely related. To learn more about obesity and overweight.
Lack of exercise is of vital importance in the development, evolution and perpetuation of obesity in adolescence. It has been observed in surveys of young people, most are not very active, so that health professionals and governments are encouraging a greater level of physical activity among children and adolescents. Physical inactivity is not only of great importance in the development of overweight and obesity, but also influences the development of chronic diseases like heart disease, some cancers, diabetes, hypertension, bowel problems and osteoporosis, also the Exercise helps improve body flexibility, balance, agility and coordination, and strengthen bones. Currently recommends that children doing physical activity for at least 60 minutes a day. To learn more about exercise.
Source: www.eufic.org/article/es/page/BARCHIVE/expid/basics-nutricion-ninos-adolescentes/
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