Preventing Nutritional Disorders in Adolescents by Encouraging a Healthy Relationship With Food

Nutritional disorders, including overweight, underweight, and/or nutrient deficiency, are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. These disorders are frequently related to abnormal patterns of eating and/or physical activity, which commonly begin in adolescence and persist into adulthood. Ab...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of adolescent health 2020-12, Vol.67 (6), p.875-879
Main Author: Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescents
Advocacy
Caregivers
Counseling
Eating behavior
Eating disorders
Health care
Healthy food
Medical personnel
Morbidity
Nutrient deficiency
Nutrition
Obesity
Physical activity
Positive emotions
Selfimage
Teenagers
Underweight
Wellness programs
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Summary:Nutritional disorders, including overweight, underweight, and/or nutrient deficiency, are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. These disorders are frequently related to abnormal patterns of eating and/or physical activity, which commonly begin in adolescence and persist into adulthood. Abnormal eating and exercise behaviors may stem from an unhealthy relationship with food, which often takes root in preadolescence or early adolescence. To prevent eating disorders, overweight, underweight, and nutritional deficiencies in adolescence and beyond, health care providers need to proactively support early adolescents and their caregivers to develop a healthy relationship with food and their bodies. Anticipatory guidance, nutrition and exercise counseling, and encouragement of body positivity and healthy self-image during the vulnerable period of early adolescence can prevent maladaptive behaviors from emerging later on. Advocacy beyond the health care setting is also needed to ensure that adolescents are exposed to consistent and positive nutritional messaging. In this position article, authors from both the Nutrition/Obesity Committee and the Eating Disorder Committee of the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine provide practical recommendations for health care professionals to guide their young patients and caregivers toward a flexible, balanced, and satisfying approach to nutrition that will lead to physical and emotional wellness throughout their lifetimes.
ISSN:1054-139X
1879-1972
DOI:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.09.022