Ways to improve the nutritional status of adolescents 1. Parents should always remind their children to always try and make time for a good meal. Emphasize the importance of eating breakfast and other meals. A good meal helps in maintaining concentration in school or work; prepares the body for work and sports; and above all keeps one healthy. 2. Parents should also inform their children that skipping breakfast will not make them lose weight but instead may even make them gain weight because of the tendency to eat more when they get hungry. 3. ating a good breakfast may help prevent bingeing or overeating or frequent nibbling by the adolescents in the school because he/she will not feel hungry immediately. 4. Encourage adolescents to sleep early so they wake up early. By doing so, the adolescent will have more time to prepare for school and for breakfast. 5. Ensure that breakfast foods are prepared for them to be able to eat before they leave for school. 6. Adolescents are encouraged to eat breakfast or a meal if they are joined with someone. As much as possible, parents and other family members should enjoy family meal together. 7. One of the reasons for skipping breakfast is the lack of appetite especially during the early morning. When eating breakfast is not possible, it may be good to pack her/his breakfast, so she/he can take this while on board the school bus or before the class starts. II. Ensuring healthy, nutritious meals for adolescents is important.1. Encourage family members including adolescents to eat a variety of foods every day following the Guide to Good Nutrition. a. Increase consumption of vegetables particularly the leafy and yellow vegetables like alugbati, saluyot, malunggay, kamote tops, kangkong and fresh salads. b. Eat at least 2-3 servings of fruits. They are rich sources of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and potassium. 2. Choose a diet with plenty of grain products, low in fat, saturated fats and cholesterol. Limit consumption of fatty foods especially those from animal sources. Moderate in sugars and salt that provides enough calcium and iron to meet the growing body needs. 3. Buy only nutritious snack food items. Many commercial snack foods are high in fat, sugar or salt with very few other nutrients. Apart from not making much contribution to the recommended daily intake, this may lead to overweight, dental caries and other health problems. Occasional use is fine especially when one needs extra energy, but do not overdo it. 4. Eat breakfast that is high in complex carbohydrates like oatmeal, root crops, whole grain cereals, and bread. 5. Eating away from home could still be healthy. Parents should remind their kids to make wise choices in food when they buy their meals or snacks in school. 6. Encourage adolescents to bring packed meals from home which are not only nutritious but safe as well. 7. When eating out, choose foods cautiously, making good use of salads, and fruits. Try not to eat out everyday. 8. Prepare and serve nutritious foods that are appetizing at home which could serve as guide for adolescents when choosing foods in school. 9. Teach adolescents the negative consequences of fad diets to their health. III. Addressing eating disorders Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are more than just eating disorders. These are considered as psychological disorders by most experts. Consulting a dietitian, a psychologist or a medical doctor will help in coming up with an effective treatment plan for the adolescent. It is also important that parents give comfort and support to the adolescent during this time, simply by giving love and compassion, appreciating them more and giving them quality time. IV. What should an underweight adolescent do to achieve normal weight? It is important for the adolescent to check on his/her weight regularly (at least twice a year) and if this is within the range of healthy weight for his/her age and height. If found to be underweight, it is important for the adolescent to acknowledge and accept his/her situation so that necessary actions could be done to correct his/her weight to prevent any further complications or deficiencies. The adolescent should be advised on the kind and amount of foods to eat until such time that he/she reaches his/her ideal body weight. The underweight adolescent should have additional intake of foods that are high in complex carbohydrates like whole grain cereals. Items from number 11.e should also be followed by the adolescent to help increase his/her weight and ensure that he/she takes nutritious meals. If the adolescent is severely underweight, it is important that a nutritionist-dietitian be consulted to help in planning out a nutritious and healthy meal for him/her. |
| V. What should an overweight adolescent do to achieve normal weight? Adolescents, most especially females, are sensitive to the issue of weight and weight gain. More realistic advice should be given to them on how to lose weight and to achieve their normal weight. The adolescent should look at weight problem in a positive manner with the parents providing emotional support. The following approaches and advices are recommended to help overweight adolescents lose weight: 1. Eliminate eating triggers such as the sight of high-calorie snacks in the house. 2. Keep nutritious, lower-calorie foods, including fruits and vegetables, in the house and make them convenient to choose and eat. 3. Reassess the family eating style. Make meals more interesting, enjoyable and fun. 4. Do fun activities as a family. 5. Talk, listen and offer support and alternatives to address the problems of adolescent to prevent her/him to eat as an emotional response. 6. Consult a registered nutritionist-dietitian to help the adolescent develop a healthy and nutritious weight-reducing diet plan. VI. Taking care of the pregnant adolescent Many adolescents engage in sexual activities. These practices are very risky to the adolescent considering their lack of knowledge on reproductive health and on skills for safer sex practices. As a result, many teenagers experience unwanted pregnancies. It is important that the diet of pregnant teenagers should be well planned to ensure that the pregnant teen and her baby get the nutrients they both need for growth. In adolescent pregnancy, it is not only the mother who may suffer from malnutrition but also the infant. Pregnancy places the adolescent at high risk of undernutrition and anemia because of the double demands in nutrient requirements and intake; demand for her growing body and demand on her pregnancy. It does not only put the adolescent to physical stress but also psychologically because she has to provide for her nutrient needs and as well as for the baby. The pregnant adolescent is also at risk of other complications such as toxemia and delivering her baby prematurely. A study in Laguna (undated) revealed that abortion, stillbirths, prematurity and other complications of pregnancy are likely to occur with pregnancies below 20 years old. It is important that a pregnant adolescent get sound advice and guidance from the OB-Gynecologist and a nutritionist-dietitian. These professionals can help her plan an appropriate diet for her to avoid complications and nutrient deficiencies during her pregnancy. Micronutrient supplementation and careful diet plan will help the pregnant adolescent go through a normal and healthy pregnancy. Interventions should focus on increasing iron and calcium intakes of the pregnant adolescent. Pre-natal check-ups and counseling is also important. It is also critical that the family be very supportive and more sympathetic since the pregnant adolescent is in a very delicate condition. Thus, providing a happy, stress-free environment would ensure a normal pregnancy. |
