Contemporary Issues in Food and Nutrition for Adolescents

Thankur, Netra, and Frank D`Amico. "Relationship of Nutrition Knowledge and Obesity in Adolescence." Feb 99-FM Pp 114-138 (n.d.): n. pag. Web.

I had the pleasure of observing a counseling session between Mrs. Natalie Porta, RD, LDN and a twelve year old male with his mother. The male’s pediatrician was concerned that the patient had gained a tremendous amount of wait from his last visit. The boy wanted to lose weight and change his eating habits. He mentioned that during the week at school he eats the schools lunch they provide and he brings a snack from home. He also mentioned that sometimes at home he has to cook whatever is available because his parents work a lot. Mainly he said he eats fast food a lot due to availability and the convenience for his parent’s busy schedules. The main strategy’s Mrs. Porta chose was goal setting and educating him and his parent on ways he can diet. After counseling the patient, the boy agreed to change his

Poor nutrition and unhealthy eating habits are the primary reason precipitating obesity in children. Research in the United States documents that most children eat processed junk foods, fast foods, candy, baked or fried foods, and juices/sodas that contain high amounts of sugar and calories. As a result of all of this, their bodies absorb excess calories and fat that are stored resulting in them becoming obese. Most of the children who are obese are taking in more calories than they burn. “Adolescents aged 12-17 who are overweight are consuming between 700-1,000 more calories per day than what is needed for the growth, physical activity and body function of a healthy weight teen.” These factors are extremely important to the health of a child and should be taken seriously by all means.

Eating healthy is important for many reasons, it will promote intellectual development in children and adolescents prevent major health problems from developing and ensure a long and healthy life style. This research paper will introduce the importance of forming a healthy eating habit from a young age onto the senior years and will also point out some of the negative effects not eating healthy can cause such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, obesity, iron deficiency anemia, dental caries, under-nutrition, and eating disorders.

It is an established fact that childhood obesity in America is a developing disease that has become an epidemic with ongoing psychological effects, this is due to many reasons, among them are the wide spread of fast-food advertisements and bill boards, the lack of physical activities and parental control. This has made food become a major health issue in many young teenagers’ life today.

It is important for pre-adulthood intervention because prevention of overweight and obesity in early childhood can in the long run, attenuate the high prevalence of excessive weight among older adults. (Moreno, L) With the assistance of specific health programs and initiatives schools are able to best assist, guide and support students with their dietary patterns and nutritional choices, thus addressing some of the factors effecting adolescent obesity. Two intervention programs/initiatives that can be, and have been, incorporated well into schools are:

A good and healthy nutrition is essential for your health. However, a survey that was conducted in 2007 proves that the Australian adolescents consume less fruit and the intake of the saturated fat and the sugars have increased in consumption (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2015). Some of the studies have shown that adolescents who frequently eat with at least one family member has a greater chance of having better food and also have a good nutritional intake. It is very evident that having the family meal a priority and by creating a positive family meal atmosphere, associates with a decreased rate of disordered eating behaviours and eating disorders in adolescents (DAA, 2016). Research shows that the Australians are eating even less fruit and vegetables before all the fast food companies started growing. The data received by the Bureau of Statistics show that the teenagers are the main charge in unhealthy eating dominated by the fast food. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2015).

Childhood obesity is a source of great debate in the United States. Many studies have shown the problem has become epidemic. Adults in the United States are increasing in weight and so are children and teenagers. Many factors are contributing to this growing problem. The influence parents have on their children can affect them negatively. Children of overweight parents are more likely to be overweight themselves. Another issue adding to the childhood obesity problem is the fact that children and teens have more options when it comes to food choices. School lunches, vending machines, and cheap calorie-packed snacks all contribute to this issue. Healthy foods are also more expensive and not as readily available as

Our focus group is adolescent high school students between the ages of 12 - 18 years. The selected high schools are located in both Texas (Arlington high school) and California (Abraham Lincoln high school). The challenge with this age group is that teenagers tend to be very hungry during early adolescents due to the increasing body demands. These increasing demands can be attributed to puberty and the rapid growth spurts

Lunch at school may be the only meal each day for some students. Therefore, school lunches need to provide a good portion of a child’s daily calories. Being hungry during the day causes students to lose concentration on education. School lunches should be a big enough proportion

The United States has seen childhood obesity rates double in children and increase four times in adolescents since the 1980’s.1 The Center for Disease Control reports that in 2012, over one third of children and adolescents were considered obese or overweight.1 There is an urgent need to address the growing epidemic of childhood obesity, as obesity has been shown to have deteriorating immediate health effects and increase the risk of chronic disease such as diabetes, osteoarthritis and cancer in adulthood.1 Although there are many influential factors in a child’s weight, nutrition is one of the main ones to consider, as a complete and balanced diet also promotes healthy growth and development.2 Research indicates that school encompasses a significant portion of a child’s time, cognitive, physical and social development, and as such, has the responsibility to promote a healthy lifestyle for children.3 Because of the nationwide concern surrounding childhood obesity, recent federal wellness policy for public schools mandate that nutrition education, physical activity and other wellness promoting programs must be part of the school environment.4 The purpose of this review of literature is to evaluate if school nutrition is one of the major contributors to childhood obesity and how policy changes have affected the problem.

In Adolescents, the chapter 5 of the book, What Children Need by Jan Waldfogel, the author addresses evidence that support adolescents about healthy growth and development, transitions to adulthood, and what parents and others can provide. To begin with, he pointed out what adolescents need to know during the period when they are growing and transitioning to adulthood. For instance, he discusses the health behaviors and outcomes and social and emotional ones such as physical activity, nutrition, risky behaviors, and cognitive development. Waldfogel states, “Nutritional habits set in adolescence can lay the groundwork for a lifetime of health eating or poor nutrition and obesity (p. 158).” Another thing that he discusses is how the role of

Diet aggressively plays a role in the rise of obesity within children. Now although diet is a much harder predictor to use across a socioeconomic population, it is not hard to find that more childrens diets are filled with unbalanced meals, less caloric dense foods, and more foods high in fat as the tradition of at home meals has declined moving more towards fast foods and foods high of sodium. In a study done on child obesity by Cara B Ebbeling, Dorota B Pawlak, David S Ludwig it is found that, “In the late 1970s, children in the

    Counteractive action of youth weight can be obtained through just a couple of steps; be that as it may, these means must be taken after nearly keeping in mind the end goal to keep up a solid life. A sound eating regimen is imperative during the time spent avoiding youth obesity, alongside a fitting caloric intake. The simplest approach to anticipate being overweight is by lessening caloric intake. Diets that preclude most loved nourishments are not liable to be effective (AHA). Abstain from utilizing sustenance as a reward or a discipline (Mayo establishment). At the point when parents compensate their kids with sugary sustenances, or potentially rebuff them with products of the earth (broccoli, grapes, carrots.), kids may see nutritious

Being “concerned with weight and shape is extremely common during those adolescence years. In addition to being exposed to the very real health risks of obesity and poor nutrition, teenagers are being exposed to the unrealistically thin beauty ideal that is portrayed in the media “ (Canadian Paediatric Society, 2004). Many adolescents feel the need to diet to be able to fit the requirements of what a teenager need to look like, the long limbs, skinny body, these are unrealistic impression that have been created throughout time. Many of the FAD dieting programs draw in teenagers due to the quick results that are produced during the short time. However, the weight loss is usually water weight, which puts your body into dehydration. During the adolescence period, dieting carries many risk involves in the practice. Risks involved include, “physiological effects, electrolyte disturbances, cardiac dysrhythmias, and even sudden cardiac death can result from unhealthy or extreme dieting practices” (Turpin, Daee, Robinson, Lawson, Gregory, & Tobias, 2002). But not participating in certified weight loss progress, major health problem can occur. Before commencing weight loss programs it would be recommended that doctors or dieticians be spoken to, confirming goals and weight loss that are suitable for each