Under nutrition can cause delay in cognitive growth and development. If the brain does not have the adequate vitamins, minerals and micronutrients it does not have the ability to grow brain tissues and conduct nerve impulses correctly. This could lead to inappropriate behaviors and social adaption as well as decreased activity levels.
“According to the AskDrSears website, nutrition affects how alert an adolescents' brain is. Nutrition influences the neurotransmitters in the brain, which help it to make connections” (as cited in Livestrong, 2014). Nutrients from what you eat also contribute to communication between brain cells, a process essential to nervous system function.
“Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years” (as cited in CDC, 2014).
“Obese children have been shown to already have many of the changes associated with vascular disease in adults including insulin resistance, high blood pressure and elevated levels of cholesterol ”(CDPH, 2013). Type 2 diabetes in the past, has been considered a disease for adults, but in the last 10 years, it has become more common in adolescents.
“The primary nutritional issue related to obesity is the imbalance between energy expenditure and energy intake. Simply stated, obesity results from more caloric intake than expenditure” (Williams & Spruill, 2016, p 13).
“Research during the past few years has suggested that American girls are entering puberty earlier - some as young as 6 years of age. The phenomenon has been linked to specific pathologies, obesity and even environmental toxins” (Owens, Kaplowitz & Juul, 2011, p. 1)
There are many factors that contribute to weight gain and the environment and nutritional choices adolescents make are major factors. Energy dense foods