Nutritional Considerations for Young Athletes
Adolescence is a time marked by significant biological, physical, psychological, and behavioral growth; therefore, understanding the types of dietary intakes and habits that minimize unhealthful weight gain, maximize performance, and promote the developme
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Nutritional Considerations for Young Athletes Rebecca Boulos and Anne-Marie Davee
Key Points
• Physical and social changes and variations in the timing of adolescent maturation have implications for the health of the growing athlete. • Fluid and food consumption patterns have physiological and biological implications, and can serve to either impair or improve adolescents’ athletic performance. • Dietary intakes and habits that minimize unhealthful weight gain, maximize athletic performance, and promote lifelong health behaviors. Keywords Adolescent athlete • Youth nutrition • Youth sports • Youth healthy diet
Introduction Adolescence is a time marked by significant biological, physical, psychological, and behavioral growth; therefore, understanding the types of dietary intakes and habits that minimize unhealthful weight gain, maximize performance, and promote the development of positive lifelong health behaviors is of critical importance. Recent estimates suggest 60 million children ages 6–18 years participate in some form of organized sport in the USA, and 44 million participate in more than one sport [1]. However, research shows that even in active sports, such as soccer, the average participant accumulates only 17 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per 50 min of game time [2]. Research also suggests the foods and beverages marketed in sports venues, sold at concession stands, and used for sports fundraising are commonly unhealthy, with few healthful options available [3]. The marketing and sales of unhealthy foods and beverages in the youth sport environment has the potential to undermine the possible, and typically minimal, physical activity benefits of participating in youth sports. This chapter will provide the latest research related to active adolescents’ (1) dietary needs; (2)
R. Boulos, MPH, PhD (*) University of New England School of Community and Population Health, Portland, ME, USA e-mail: [email protected] A.-M. Davee, MS, RD, LD University of New England, Portland, ME, USA J.M. Rippe (ed.), Nutrition in Lifestyle Medicine, Nutrition and Health, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-43027-0_14, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017
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beverage consumption patterns; (3) use of supplements and ergogenic aids; and (4) behavioral techniques to promote healthful dietary patterns. Lastly, this section will provide practical information for how health practitioners, coaches, and parents can support a healthful environment for young athletes.
Dietary Needs for Young Athletes During adolescence, youth undergo rapid changes in height and weight, hormonal composition, secondary sexual characteristics, and brain development. This period of development can be conceptualized as occurring in three distinct stages: early adolescence (ages 11–14 years), middle adolescence (ages 15–17 years), and late adolescence (18–21 years) [4]. Different phases of development occur within each of these time points. Early adolescence is marked by the onset of physiological and phys
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