While the current public health spotlight focuses on the first 1,000 days of life, evidence suggests the first 1,000 weeks lay the foundation for lifelong health and resiliency. Adolescents are at greater risk of dietary inadequacy than any other age group due to the difference in food intake versus recommendations during the period of rapid growth and development they experience at the onset of puberty. In addition to the nutrients of public health concern, teen girls, specifically ages 14-18, exhibit low intakes of vital nutrients- Iron, phosphorus, magnesium, choline, folate, and vitamins B6 and B12- as highlighted by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Compounded by influential societal factors that influence eating behaviors, including social media use, peer pressure, and the pursuit of independence, today’s teen girls are facing a nutrition crisis.
This webinar will review the research on the wide range of nutritional risks and behaviors surrounding adolescent food choices, spotlighting why adolescent girls warrant special attention. Join registered dietitian nutritionists, Jill Castle, MS, RDN, and Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD, CLEC, CPT, and health psychologist Charlotte Markey, PhD, as they review current intake patterns and consumption trends, and outline evidence-based solutions for how health-care providers can help patients and clients grow up healthy and strong.
- Identify common female adolescent nutrient deficiencies
- Describe the potential impact adolescent nutritional inadequacies may have on lifelong and intergenerational health
- Identify evidence-based nutritional strategies to support holistic adolescent health, encompassing physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing