Where Can I Find Nutrition Resources for Children and Adolescents Participating in Youth Sports?

Abstract

In addition to consuming a healthy eating pattern, regular physical activity is one of the most important things all Americans, including children and adolescents, can do to improve their health. The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, published by the US Department of Health and Human Services, describe the types and amounts of physical activity that offer substantial health benefits.1Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Physical Activity Guidelines. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/paguidelines/. Accessed July 12, 2017.Google Scholar Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes or more of physical activity daily. Most of that time should be spent doing either moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic activity. In addition, they should participate in muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening activities at least 3 days a week. The “Be Active Your Way” blog is the official blog of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and it provides updates about the development of the second edition of the guidelines and insights from health and physical activity professionals about translating the guidelines into practice.2Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Be Active Your Way. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/news/category/blog-bayw/. Accessed May 30, 2017.Google Scholar A 2012 mid-course Physical Activity Guidelines report on “Strategies to Increase Physical Activity Among Youth” further emphasized the importance of physical activity for health in children and youth and outlined methods for achieving the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day, while noting that fewer than half of children meet the recommendations.3Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. PAG Midcourse Report: Strategies to Increase Physical Activity Among Youth. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/paguidelines/midcourse/. Accessed July 12, 2017.Google Scholar Additional statistics and information about physical activity and health are available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s physical activity webpage.4National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Facts about Physical Activity. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/data/facts.htm. Accessed May 30, 2017.Google Scholar Proper nutrition is a major factor that can help make participation in physical activity a positive experience for children and adolescents. Registered dietitian nutritionists may be called upon to talk with coaches, make presentations to players and their parents, or provide personalized nutrition counseling. An excellent resource for sports-related nutrition information is the Pediatric Nutrition Care Manual (PNCM).5Pediatric Nutrition Care Manual. Child athletes. Chicago, IL: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. https://www.nutritioncaremanual.org/topic.cfm?ncm_category_id=12&lv1=144615&ncm_toc_id=144615&ncm_heading=&. Accessed May 30, 2017.Google Scholar According to the PNCM, nutrient needs are similar for boys and girls prior to puberty. When a variety of foods are consumed, a child’s diet can meet nutrient needs by following the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans in conjunction with guidelines specified in ChooseMyPlate.gov. The PNCM states that for activities lasting less than 60 minutes, water is all that is needed for hydration. For activities longer than 60 minutes, other beverages, such as fluid-replacement drinks that contain additional carbohydrate and electrolytes, are recommended. Some studies suggest that the presence of flavoring, sodium, and carbohydrate in a beverage enhances thirst and is effective in reducing or preventing voluntary dehydration. Puberty, which occurs during adolescence, is characterized by increases in height and weight, completion of skeletal growth, increases in bone mass, changes in body composition, and sexual maturation. Children enter adolescence and begin puberty at varying ages. These changes result in increased nutrition needs, and optimal nutrition is key. In addition to physical growth, adolescents experience an increase in the ability to assess and address more complex situations and a significant increase in the desire for autonomy. The increased nutrient needs—along with more independence in decision-making regarding food choices and other influences such as peer pressure or the media—may put some adolescents at nutritional risk. Understanding the physical and cognitive changes occurring throughout adolescence can help nutrition and dietetics practitioners working with adolescents. The PNCM provides guidance and resources to assist with meeting the needs of the active child. It also addresses the unique nutritional needs of the child athlete in relation to growth and development and within the context of the Nutrition Care Process. A registered dietitian nutritionist, especially one that specializes in sports nutrition, can be an asset to the child who is becoming more active and to the child athlete who is already participating in sporting events that can vary greatly in skill levels.