Essay - Nutrition, Health and Adolescence 1. Introduction There are One Billion...

Nutrition, health and adolescence

1. Introduction

There are one billion adolescents world-wide, and how effectively they cope with the perils of growing up will be a cruci*****l element in whether humanity can surmount the challenge of ***** next Century." UNICEF. (Nutrition in ***** - Issues and Challenges for the Health Sector.)

***** nutritional requirements ***** adolescents and the concern that this has created in society, has prompted numerous studies and research articles on the topic. One ***** the many reason for the focus on nutrition and the adolescent is the *****creasing danger of obesity in contemporary society. America ***** reached what some critics claim to be a critical stage ***** o*****sity and obesity related ***** issues - especially with regards to ***** youth. Another ***** for the focus on nutritional ***** is ***** it ***** this age group that is most affected by the quality of modern foodstuffs ***** mass produced products in society.

This paper will present on overview of nutrition and health concerns for *****s and attempt to develop a propos*****l which may improve ***** health in this age group.

2. Review of nutritional and health concerns

***** period known as adolescence is defined by ***** World Health Organization as the developmental period between ten and nineteen years of age. (Nutrition in adolescence -Issues and Challenges for the ***** Sec*****r) This is described as a period of gradual transition from childhood to adulthood which *****, "...***** by important psychological and social changes, not only physiological change." (Nutrition ***** adolescence ***** ***** ***** for the Health Sector) Most importantly it is a ***** of continuous and rapid physical growth in the individual with ***** much as 45% of skeletal growth taking place and 15 to 25% of adult height ***** achieved during ***** period. (Nutrition in adolescence -Issues ***** Challenges for the Health Sector) Approximately thirty-five percent ***** bone ***** is also accumulated during *****. Therefore it ***** during this period of intense growth that ***** requirements and correct nutrition ***** of such importance. Adolescence is seen as an opportunity to lay the foundations for a ********** productive and reproductive life, ***** "...***** prevent ***** onset of nutrition-***** chronic diseases in adult life, while addressing adolescence-specific nutrition ***** and possibly also correcting some *****al problems originating in the past." (***** ***** adolescence -Issues and Challenges for the Health Sector.)

***** is also a period th*****t is usually ***** as being distinct in many respects to o*****r ***** ph*****es. "There is a ***** recognition *****mong clinicians and public health workers alike that the approaches used ***** prevent and respond to health ***** in adults need to be tailored (***** a gre*****ter or lesser extent) if they are to meet the special needs of adolescents." (WHO discussion papers on adolescence) Theref*****e there are specific areas of concern ***** relate ***** this age ***** ***** regard to nutrition ***** health. There is a ***** ***** ***** authorities on the subject that often *****al aspects are neglected during adolescence and that more specific