Adolescents

• Due to physical and hormonal changes as well as risk of eating disorders, it is important for teenagers to establish healthy relationships with food.
• Iron intake should be increased to offset the loss due to menstruation.
• Protein, complex carbohydrates and unsaturated fats are the best energy sources to fuel growth spurts.
• Lipids are needed for the production of hormones and vitamin absorption, but too much can lead to obesity.
• Humans reach their peak bone mass towards the end of adolescence, so Calcium and Vitamin D is required for bone development and strength.