The period of time between 5 to 10 years old is called middle childhood. Preadolescence is known to the stage between 9 to 11 years old for girls and 10 to 12 for boys. In these stages, physical growth does not fluctuate considerably; however, children and preadolescents have many emotional, behavioral and psychological changes. Children gain around 7 pounds and grow 1.5 inches per year.
Common nutrition problems among children 5 to 11 years old are iron deficiency and dental caries. The RDA for iron at this stage is 8mg/day. Meat, fish and poultry are good sources of iron. Eating simple sugar is the main cause of dental caries. Brushing teeth and eating more vegetables and fruits instead can dismiss the risk of developing …show more content…
Adolescents tend to eat less dietary fiber, calcium, iron, vitamin D and folate than recommended. The deficiency in dietary fiber could be a consequence of eating a diet low in vegetables, fruits and grains. The RDA for dietary fiber is 26g/day for females and between 31 to 38g/day for males. Low calcium intakes among adolescents are correlated with energy intakes. During adolescence, people decrease the energy intake to control weight, and it can lead with calcium deficiency. A proper calcium intake at this stage is crucial for physical growth and development. The DRI for calcium for people between 9 to 18 years old is 1300mg/day. Iron deficiency is the first cause of anemia, and it is very common among adolescents. Most of the iron in the body is storage; however, it is also essential for growth in males and menstruation process in females. The RDA for iron varies with age, the from 8mg/day for females and males 9-13 years old, 15mg/day for females 14-18 years old and 11mg/day for males 14-18 years old. Vitamin D is essential in the calcium and phosphorus absorption and for bone formation. Low HDL cholesterol, which increases the risk of obesity and diabetes, is associated with low vitamin D intake. The RDA for vitamin D is 600IU per day. Folate deficiency is a cause of anemia because it is needed for DNA, RNA and protein synthesis. The DRI for folate is between 300 to 400mg/day for people 9-18 years old. Convenience food and ready-to-eat meals, popular along adolescents, are high in saturated fat, sodium and sugar. Eating diets high in fat, sodium and fat increase the risk of developing diseases in adolescents. Fat consumption should not be over the 25-35% of total calories while adolescents should not consume more than 10% of calories from saturated