Sports Nutrition Advice for Adolescent Athletes

Abstract

Adolescents participating in sport have high demands for nutritional adequacy to meet their needs for growth, development, wellness and athletics. Nutritional risk can be quite high in this population due to their unique needs, low access to credible information and nutrition professionals, and misinformation in the media and marketplace specifically targeting athletes. Physicians and other health professionals have an opportunity to communicate nutrition facts and make evidence-based recommendations about healthy eating in the setting of their ongoing interactions with adolescent athletes and their families. The purpose of this review is to describe the nutritional needs of adolescents participating in sport and highlight the potential for nutritional risk. Endorsed by professional organizations, our recommendations emphasize a balanced eating pattern that includes a wide variety of fresh, minimally processed whole foods. Our approach is to empower and teach adolescents to take responsibility for planning, preparing, and providing themselves consistent access to foods and fluids that deliver nutrients needed for proper fueling and recovery. Specific talking points that health professionals can use in brief interactions with patients and families are provided to endorse key behavioral strategies that young athletes can adopt to achieve peak athletic performance and optimal nutritional status.

Nutritional Risks among Adolescent Athletes with Disordered Eating

“…Adolescent athletes are more vulnerable than adult athletes to the physical consequences of disordered eating attitudes, due to their high energy and nutrient requirements [4,5]. Their sport performance is compromised, but also normal growth, development and maturation may be impaired [5,40,42].…”

“…Organized sports provide many physical, mental and cognitive benefits to young people, however adolescent athletes have very high nutritional requirements, as a result of intensive daily training in addition to their energy and nutrients needs for growth and development [4]. Adolescents who participate in sports have higher nutritional demands than their non-athletes peers of the same age, in order to meet at the same time their needs for growth and wellness, as well as for optimal sports performance [4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

Development of an Evidence-based Nutritional Intervention Protocol for Adolescent Athletes

“…Nutritional education for adolescent athletes should be based on principles of sound nutrition, including guidelines for appropriate nutrition in training and sports performance as well as nutrition for proper growth and development during adolescence 19 . Nutritional education programs for athletes should also be designed to enhance exercise performance, improve nutrient intake, and increase nutritional knowledge 33 .…”

“…Despite having higher nutritional needs, adolescent athletes are vulnerable to dietary risks, including skipped meals, fad diets, eating disorders, and marketing claims for sports supplements that promise improved performance 18 . Effective nutritional education and counseling can help adolescent athletes choose varied nutrition-dense foods, help them to maintain proper hydration, and eat balanced meals and snacks 19 .…”

Coaching Youth Middle Distance Runners

“…Maintaining a healthy energy balance, practicing effective hydration habits, and understanding the various aspects of supplementation practices can help athletes improve their performance and increase their enjoyment of the sport. Bingham, Borkan, and Quatromoni (2015) provide this practical advice for young athletes:…”