» Articles » PMID: 29631269

Nutrition for the Next Generation: Older Children and Adolescents

Overview
Journal Ann Nutr Metab
Publisher Karger
Date 2018 Apr 10
PMID 29631269
Citations 33
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

This paper reviews information on why the nutrition of older children (5-9 years) and adolescents (10-19 years) is important and the consequences that it can have over generations. Developing countries still face a high burden of undernutrition and anemia, while the burden of overweight and obesity is on the rise in both developing and developed countries. There are evidence-based interventions which can improve the nutritional status and these include interventions for a balanced and diverse diet and micronutrient supplementation, especially iron and multiple micronutrient supplementation where there is sufficient evidence to reduce anemia. There is mixed evidence for the effective strategies to prevent and control obesity and a dearth of evidence from developing countries. Adolescent pregnancy also poses greater challenges to the health of mother and child, and advocacy should be rampant to delay the age of marriage and pregnancy. Interventions targeted to improving the nutritional status among "pregnant adolescents" have shown improvement in birth weight and a reduction in low birth weight and preterm delivery. Traditional platforms including school-based and community-based approaches offer a mixed picture of effectiveness, but emerging avenues of mHealth and social media could also be channelized to reach this population. The population of this age group is on the rise globally, and failure to invest in improving the nutrition of older children and adolescents will further increase the number of dependents in coming generations and negatively influence the health of future generations and progress of nations.

Citing Articles

Food taboo practices and associated factors among pregnant women in Sub-Sahara Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Belew A, Mengistu B, Lakew A, Muhammad E J Health Popul Nutr. 2025; 44(1):24.

PMID: 39893470 PMC: 11786486. DOI: 10.1186/s41043-025-00770-0.


Metabolomic profiling of human feces and plasma from extrauterine growth restriction infants.

Duan J, Zhong Q, Luo L, Ning Y, Qi Z, Wang S Pediatr Res. 2024; .

PMID: 39496876 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03690-7.


Association of Competitive Adolescent Athletes from Lean and Non-Lean Sports Physical, Social and Psychological Characteristics with Adherence to Mediterranean Diet.

Thoma F, Koidou E, Dolopikou C, Barkoukis V, Giaginis C, Papadopoulou S Sports (Basel). 2024; 12(10).

PMID: 39453233 PMC: 11511499. DOI: 10.3390/sports12100267.


Associated factors of dietary diversity among schoolchildren in Plateau Central region of Burkina Faso: a cross-sectional study.

Ouedraogo D, Compaore E, Ouedraogo O, Dicko M BMC Nutr. 2024; 10(1):91.

PMID: 38918872 PMC: 11197321. DOI: 10.1186/s40795-024-00896-0.


Factors associated with compliance with weekly iron and folic acid supplementation among school adolescent girls in Debub Achefer district, northwest Ethiopia: school-based cross-sectional study.

Haile B, Oumer A, Negese T, Temesgen M, Kebede A, Abdurahman D Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):9980.

PMID: 38693315 PMC: 11063210. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60800-5.