Nutrition education for children, teens

Studies show that there are influencing factors associated with food choices among children and adolescents, which include hunger, appetite, taste, money, food prices, education, preparation, media messaging/ marketing, cultural practices, parental attitudes, nutrition knowledge and living conditions, just to list a few.

In focusing on children and teens, poor nutrition affects their growth and development, cognitive functions, contributes to disease, academic performance, productivity, and one’s health and nutritional status.

Dietary intakes during these early years of the lifecycle remain critical for supporting growth and development; for example, in childhood, adequate nutrition is required for developing bones, teeth, muscles, and blood. Similarly, during the period of adolescence, there is rapid growth and development that affect physical and psychosocial aspects of health, and increase nutrient needs.

Nutrition education Having knowledge of nutrition during childhood and adolescence can be beneficial; therefore, nutrition education is an essential key in promoting health and wellness in populations.

Healthcare professionals can work together collaboratively.

Nutrition education should be provided by trained food and nutrition professionals (registered dietitians and nutritionists) to children, adolescents, parents/guardians, educators, and to persons in various community settings, such as schools, community and/or health centres, and churches, which can make a big difference.

This of course can include teaching children and adolescents about nutrient content of foods, explaining why making healthy foods choices are better, for example, choosing foods that are less salty, choosing water and limiting sugary beverages as well as helping children and parents/ guardians to understand the life-long implications associated with poor eating habits in childhood and adolescence leading to adulthood.

Childhood obesity Studies show that obesity in children and teens, can possibly lead to obesity in adulthood.

Energy imbalance, simply meaning, consuming more food than the body needs for growth, functioning, and physical activity; the extra calories consumed can lead to weight gain. Other factors contributing to childhood obesity include genetics, metabolism, lack of physical activity, environmental factors, and social and individual psychology.

Childhood obesity remains a major concern in the Caribbean; it contributes to the onset of chronic non-communicable diseases and other challenges. Obesity can have long-term impact on one’s physical, social and emotional health.

In TT , from a study conducted by the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute, 2009 to 2010, it reported that among primary schoolchildren and secondary school students, 23 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively were overweight and obese, and 14 per cent underweight (Ministry of Health, 2011).

From a global perspective, the World Health Organization documented that large numbers of children who are overweight and obese reside in developing countries, and the rate increase noted to be more than 30 per cent higher, than in developed countries. A continuation of these current trends, show that overweight and obese infants and young children will increase to approximately 70 million by the year 2025. They also emphasised that without intervention obese infants and young children, may more than likely continue to be obese during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

Overall, you should note that nutrition education will more than likely contribute in reducing or lowering one’s potential risk for chronic diseases childhood obesity and aid in promoting healthy lifestyles.

From this brief overview, nutrition education programmes are designed to help students and their families make changes in dietary practices; with the aim of adopting healthy eating behaviours and improvement in physical activity habits. Through effective nutrition education children learn about healthy eating through action, experience, and participation.

Also, nutrition education needs to be linked with life outside of the classroom.

Claudette Mitchell, PhD, RD is an Assistant Professor, University of the Southern Caribbean, School of Science, Technology