Adolescents need sufficient energy and specific nutrients in the categories of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and water, to fuel growth and supply basic daily needs.
All body tissues are susceptible to inadequate nourishment.
At the other extreme, eating more food than needed during adolescence can cause excess fat to be stored throughout the rest of life. Develop and maintain health services to assist adolescents to eat adequately, but not excessively, and to meet their nutritional needs, whether normal or modified by chronic disease, metabolic disorders, competitive athletics, pregnancy or other life events. Implement nutritional education, health promotion and disease prevention programs for all adolescents, especially those at increased risk for inadequate or excessive nutritional intake. Dedicate resources for research to determine the long and short-term consequences of nutritional intake during adolescence, as well as the potential to improve biological conditions by altering the intake of nutrients and to positively influence food choices at this stage of life. Strengthen basic and advanced training opportunities in adolescent nutrition for nutritionists and adolescent health professionals, and for students preparing for these professions.