Question

Elizabeth is 13-years old and has become very body-conscious since getting her first period. She feels very grown up and wants to lose some weight to look more like the teen models on television. To this end, Elizabeth decides to give up dairy products, meat and poultry because she’s heard that these foods impede weight loss. She still eats some fish, but fruits and vegetables make up the majority of her diet.

Question 2: Identify which vitamins and minerals are of concern in a teen’s diet, and how Elizabeth’s new diet puts her at risk for deficiency in these nutrients. Include in your answer whether the RDA for these nutrients is appropriate for Elizabeth and discuss potential outcomes of deficiency. You will need to defend your answer using specific facts, data, and other information drawn from the textbook and at least one other supplemental source.

Answer 1

Childrens and teens have different nutritional needs when compared to the adults. The important vitamin and minerals include calcium, vitamin B complex, vitamin D E, fiber, iron etc.

At the age of 9 to 18 one needs 1300 mg of calcium. Elizabath’s new diet put her in a calcium deficient condition because she has stopped using diary products which is a rich source of calcium. Intake of dark green leafy vegetables help her to compensate the situation.

Teens require 2.4 micrograms of vitamins daily. Animal based foods like meat, poultry, fish etc are rich source of vitamin B12. Fishes and fortified foods have vitamin D which is essential for the development of bones in teens. Teens require as much as adult need of vitamin E which will help to boost immunity. Vegetable oils, nuts and seeds have vitamin E.

Womens are rhe volunerable groups to get anemia due to vitamin deficiency. Elizabath’s new diet plan will make her anaemic. Ple and yellowish skin, dizziness, bone related issues, weight loss, numbness etc will result if she continues this diet for long period.

A healthy individual require a balanced diet with minerals and vitamins.