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Relationship between malnutrition and adolescence
We are all aware of the importance and influence of diet on our health.
However, not everyone knows that, at some stages of life and development, this importance and influence is even greater.
We refer to adolescence, a time marked by the increase in energy, protein and micronutrient needs that exceeds that of any other stage. To make the reader aware of the importance of eating during puberty, we highlight that:
- During this stage, 25% of the adult size is acquired.
- The skeletal mass is increased by 50%.
- Muscle mass doubles (especially in males).
- And there is an increase in blood volume and internal organs.
And all these changes are essential to achieve the correct development and training of an adult.. Furthermore, adolescence is a period in which there is a great nutritional risk.
And, finally, in no case should this be a stage in which unhealthy habits are created that contribute to creating health problems in older ages.
Eating habits and risk behaviors that adolescents can develop
Today, a large number of adolescents have developed the following habits that should be eliminated:
- Restriction or meal suppression I eat the breakfast.
- Fast food abuse, whose main consequence is obesity.
- Intake between meals high-calorie, low-nutrient foods (such as pastries). This reduces appetite and can even disrupt dietary habits.
- Tracking special and unbalanced diets that can suppose a lack of nutrients that affects the development and formation of the adult person.
- Smoke. Remember that tobacco kills up to half of the people who consume it (World Health Organization).
- Drink alcohol, which influences the absorption of vitamin C, vitamin A, thiamine and folic acid, also increasing the elimination, through urinary excretion, of zinc, magnesium and calcium, key elements in physical and mental development.
Consequences of a poor diet
The main consequence is the lack of key nutrients for physical and mental development of people. Furthermore, as we have already pointed out, this development occurs mainly in adolescence. In addition, these habits (in extreme situations) can cause eating disorders that cause some diseases:
The obesity: This is one of the most serious problems facing public health today. More than 25% of male adolescents (in Spain) are overweight, while more than 5% suffer from obesity. In women, on the other hand, more than 19% are overweight and more than 3% are obese. And, the health consequences of being obese are the development of cardiovascular diseases, bone problems, hypertension, colon cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome, among many others.
Eating disorders: which includes common diseases in adolescence that have common features, such as anorexia, bulimia or vigorexia.
Ultimately, It is essential to follow a good diet in adolescence, ingesting the necessary nutrients to promote proper physical and mental development.
And remember that you can find much more news like this in Food Service Magazine.