Child and Preadolescent Nutrition Quiz

Child and Preadolescent Nutrition

• Preadolescence is the school-age period
• Girls are 9-11 years old
• Boys are 10-12 years old
• Nutrition problems include undernutrition, dental caries, and weight issues at both ends of the spectrum

Importance of Nutrition

• Adequate nutrition prevents immediate health problems
• Establishing healthy eating behaviors reduces the risk of chronic conditions
• Proper nutrition is important for normal growth and development

Normal Growth and Development

• Growth velocity slows during school years
• Annual growth is 3-3.5 kg in weight and 6 cm in height
• Regular monitoring is important
• Height and weight should be plotted on growth charts
• WHO growth references are available for children aged 5-19
• Gender-specific growth standards exist and should be used
• Growth references differ from those for younger children (0-5 years)
• Growth data is based on existing historical data

Physiological Development of School-Age Children

• Muscular strength, motor coordination, and stamina increase
• Movement patterns become more complex
• Body fat reaches a minimum before increasing for adolescent growth spurt
• Adiposity rebound occurs at around 6 years old with an increase in body fat percentage.
• Risk of obesity is higher in early stages.

Cognitive Development of School-Age Children

• Self-efficacy (knowledge of what to do and ability to do it) develops.

• Develops from magical thinking to concrete operations & egocentrism decreases

• Capable of multi-aspect focus and more rational cause/effect reasoning

• Classify, reclassify, and generalize abilities improve

• Greater independence and family role learning

• Peer relationships become very important

• Development of feeding skills and eating behaviors occurs

• Mealtime involvement, appropriate food preparation (chores)

• Parents' food preferences influence childrens’ preferences

• Eating together as a family is encouraged.

• Media (TV, fast food) significantly impacts food intake and preferences

• Parents should provide a healthy food environment, but avoid being overly controlling.

• Body image and excessive dieting: mothers' weight concerns can influence children's feeding practices. An early concern toward weight and body size might precede the onset of disordered eating in girls.

Energy and Nutrient Needs of School-Age Children

• Energy needs depend on activity level and body size
• Based on age, height, weight and physical activity levels
• Protein recommendations are 0.95 grams of protein per kg of body weight per day

Common Nutrition Problems

• Iron deficiency is less common in school-age children than toddlers. Diagnosis and treatment involve oral iron trials lasting four weeks. Dietary recommendations include iron-rich foods (meat, fish, poultry, and fortified cereals) along with vitamin C to improve absorption.
• Dental caries are common, especially in children aged 6-9. Diet is a significant contributing factor. Complex carbohydrates are better choices than simple sugars. Regular meal times and snack times are helpful. Fluoride supplementation is needed.

Prevention of Nutrition-Related Disorders in School-Age Children

• Rate of childhood overweight and obesity is alarming
• Characteristics of overweight children include taller stature, advanced bone age, earlier sexual maturity, and often look older.
• Overweight children have higher risks for health concerns
• Predictors of obesity include age of BMI rebound, a gradual increase in BMI after a decline and early adiposity rebound
• Factors influencing obesity include parental environment (parental obesity)
• Television viewing and screen time are strongly related to obesity, causing reduced energy expenditure and increased dietary intake while also disrupting sleep patterns.
• Prevention necessitates body mass index (BMI)-for-age percentile assessment, healthy eating, and increased physical activity.

Dietary Recommendations

• Include iron-rich foods, fiber-rich foods, limiting foods with saturated or trans fat
• Adequate calcium intake (1000 mg/day for 4-8 years, 1300 mg/day for 9-13 years) is essential for peak bone development
• Adequate Vitamin D for calcium absorption (from sunlight and fortified foods) is crucial.
• Lactose intolerance is more common in older children than younger children.
• Cold water is the best fluid for normal activity, while soft drinks should be limited
• Vegetarian diets should be planned carefully to provide adequate protein, essential fatty acids, calcium, iron, zinc, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin C

Physical Activity Recommendations

• Children should engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity per day.
• Parents should encourage physical activity and limit media and computer use.
• Determinants include sex differences (girls being less active)
• Physical activity decreases with age and impacts those that are obese

Health-Promoting Schools Initiative

• Provide nutrition education and support healthy lifestyles
• Schools provide an appropriate environment for learning healthy lifestyles.

Test your understanding of child and preadolescent nutrition, focusing on the unique dietary needs and growth patterns of school-age children. This quiz covers important aspects such as nutritional problems, growth monitoring, and the role of nutrition in preventing health issues. Make sure to review key concepts regarding girls aged 9-11 and boys aged 10-12.