1. Food & Nutrition through the Lifespan
Adolescent Nutrition
By: Helen Hawver
For CTAE-Resource Network, FY11 Instructional Resources Project

2. FCS-FNL-6. Students will explain the nutritional requirements of the adolescence diet.
a. Identify changes in body composition as a result of growth and development and explain the cause of increased nutritional risk for individuals in this age group.
b. Demonstrate an awareness of fluids, hydration, carbohydrates, and supplements on physical activity.
c. Explain the causes of obesity and evaluate popular weight loss diets within the context of an adequate and balanced diet.
d. Distinguish between eating disorders, predict the outcomes, and identify the at-risk individuals.

3. Obesity and Dieting
Obesity in adolescence is often a result of childhood obesity (overfeeding during infancy and childhood).
Poor self esteem/concept excludes an adolescent from a social life
Dependence on fast food and SODA!
Losing weight as an adolescence is more difficult than in childhood because adolescence have more control over what they eat and they have to make the decision to lose weight themselves

4. Obesity and Dieting cont.
Many adolescence turn to dieting as a way to fight obesity.
This can become dangerous because many adolescence see smoking as a quick way to drop a few pounds since it is an appetite suppressant
Teens also turn to drugs such as pot and cocaine because of their relation to weight loss

5. Popular Weight Loss Diets
Read the information on the diet
Explain
What the diet entails
Advantages
Disadvantages
Answer
Would you recommend this diet to an adolescent? A middle aged person?
Why or why not
What do you think are some dangers of this diet?
What are the restraints of this diet (example: cost, time)?

6. Eating Disorders Anorexia Nervosa
Ignores feelings of hunger and eats very little or refuses to eat
These people see themselves as overweight even when they are dangerously underweight
Basically a person voluntarily starves themselves
Warning signs
Intense fear of gaining weight
Will not eat in front of others
Hair loss
Denial of hunger
Absent or irregular menstrual periods
Perfectionist
Depressed/Lonely/Anxious/Empty/Hopeless
Reads food labels constantly

7. Eating Disorders cont. Bulimia Nervosa
Repeated episodes of binging (eating a large amount of food at one time), and then purges (vomits) or takes laxatives to prevent the food from causing weight gain
May also exercise excessively
Often “look” a normal weight, but inside they have eroded their esophagus, worn away the enamel on their teeth, caused stomach ulcers, caused intestinal problems, and have starved their bodies of proper nutrition

8. Eating Disorders cont. Warning Signs of Bulimia
Worried about body weight
Excessive food consumption
Frequent trips to the bathroom after eating
Blood shot eyes
Sore throat
Dental problems (tooth enamel wears away)
Exercises excessively
Irregular menstrual periods
Depression and/or mood swings

9. Eating Disorders cont. Binge Eating Warning Signs
Binges, but does not purge or exercise
May be overweight or “seesaw” between weights
Warning Signs
Hides away to eat
Stashed wrappers/hidden food
Seems to eat average amount and then not interested in food
Late night eaters
Often relates food to “having a bad day” or to “feeling better”

10. Eating Disorders cont.
In paragraph form, write the answers to the following:
What are the outcomes?
Anorexia
Bulimia
Binge Eating
Who is at risk?
Outcomes:
A: stress on heart, immune system, bones, ulcers B: poor teeth, esophagus damage, intestinal issues Binge: Stomach issues, intestinal issues
All: possible brain damage, heart failure
RISK:
Low self esteem, poor body image, constantly told they are ugly, fat, etc, wealthy children who seem to “have it all” , children who are overly stressed/involved in too much, no parental control…permissive parents, OR authoritarian parents with too much control.