Health Implication Of Adolescents Poor Feeding Habits

 Overweight and Obesity : Though both are used interchangeably, overweight and obesity are however, not the same. Overweight is an increase and excess weight of the total body structures while excessive fat tissue in the body requires to meet its needs, overweight or obesity results. Such adolescent thereafter suffer from depression, withdrawal, low self-esteem, poor speed, flexibility and endurance level especially in the physical education classes. They are also prone to coronary heart disease, kidney diseases and diabetes.

Underweight: Adolescents suffering from underweight lack enough fatty tissue to pad their bodies protection to nerve plexuses. 

This also make the adolescents to be slim, lacking many body contours like breast and buttocks and when these indications of malnourishment, they become restless and have low fatigue.

Anorexia Nervosa : This is characterized by extreme weight loss, disturbances in body image and intense fear of obesity. It is associated with problems related to digestive system like gastric emptying and decreased intestinal mobility which may produce a sense of stomach fullness, abdominal pain and constipation.

Girls with anorexia nervosa suffers from amenorrhoea and estrogen deficiency.

Acne: it is an inflammatory diseases of the sebaceous glands of the skin secreting greasy material called sebum. This is common among adolescent eating greasy food. The skin glands may be infected and result into small postules and if pressed, may lead to a sacred and dark spots all over faces. A dermatologist and nutritionist may be of help. Girls are more embarrassed by this skin disorder, and many result to using all sorts of medicated soaps and bleaching cream to make their faces look smooth and soft. This diseases do affect their acceptance among the mates who are free of this which may affect their academic and athletic performances.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis start during adolescence which are due to inflammatory small and large intestine and because of much enteric loss and the catabolic state of patient, there is need for increased nutritional requirements. Complications of these disease include fistula and strictures which require specific nutritional therapies. Adolescents suffering from these diseases frequently have delayed onset of puberty and poor growth due to poor nutrition secondary to the decrease ingestion and intestinal absorption protein - caloric intake.

Alcoholism: Alcoholism is a social diseases which like in adults, the alcoholic adolescents eat less and also unable to make best use of the nutrients in the food because of impaired liver, small intestine etc.