Programmes to address malnutrition will have to find ways of addressing poor food choices amongst children of 10-19 years.
India is home to almost a fifth of the global adolescent (10-19 years) population. This period of transition of a child into adulthood, accompanied by significant physical, physiological, psychological, and behavioural changes, is the second and the last “window of opportunity” in life for gaining optimum height, and for catch up growth — the first being the first 1,000 days of life. Nutritional requirements increase substantially and peak during this period with a 15–25 per cent increase in height, attainment of 40–60 per cent of peak bone mass and up to 50 per cent of adult body weight — as well as blood loss due to the onset of menstruation among girls. Read more…
