Key points
Growth and development are rapid during teenage years, and the demand for energy and most nutrients is relatively high. National data shows that average intakes of fat among teenagers were close to the adult benchmark of 35% of food energy. A proportion of teenagers had low intakes of some vitamins and minerals e.g. vitamin A, riboflavin, iron and magnesium, with more girls aged 11-18 having low intakes compared to boys of a similar age. Teenagers in Britain are largely inactive, with 46% of boys and 69% of girls aged 15-18 spending less than the recommended one hour a day participating in activities of moderate intensity.
ENERGY AND NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS
Growth and development are rapid during teenage years, and the is relatively high. This demand differs between boys and girls: boys need more protein and energy than girls due to their greater growth spurt. The growth spurt usually begins around the age of 10 years in girls and 12 years in boys. In both sexes, an average of 23cm is added to height and 20-26kg to weight. Before adolescence, both girls and boys have an average of 15% body fat. During adolescence this increases to about 20% in girls and decreases to about 10% in boys. One way to obtain sufficient energy (and nutrients) is by the consumption of nutritious snacks to compliment regular meals. However, some teenagers eat more than they need and may become overweight, especially if they are inactive. It is better to try to prevent obesity than to encourage strict dieting in this age group. Encouraging a healthy lifestyle is therefore of prime importance during these years. Good habits practised now will be likely to benefit their health for the rest of their lives. There is an increasing tendency for teenagers, particularly girls, to control their weight by unsuitable methods such as smoking or adopting very low energy diets. A recent government survey reporting on the diets of British school children found that one in six girls aged 15-18 years were dieting to lose weight. A restricted diet especially one that excludes whole , can lead to nutrient deficiencies and problems in later life.
