Physiological Changes During Childhood and Adolescence and Their Implications for Nutritional Requirements: A Narrative Review

Zaenudin Zaenudin; Dwi Widyawati

doi:10.59923/healthcare.v1i1.803

Authors

Zaenudin Zaenudin Department of Nursing Science, Akademi Keperawatan Al-Ikhlas, Indonesia
Dwi Widyawati Departement of Madicine, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59923/healthcare.v1i1.803

Keywords:

Adolescents, Children, Dietary Patterns, Nutritional Requirements, Physiological Changes

Abstract

Childhood and adolescence are critical periods in the human life cycle characterized by physical growth, cognitive development, organ maturation, as well as rapid hormonal and psychosocial changes. Physiological changes occurring at each developmental stage influence nutritional requirements and dietary patterns needed to support optimal growth and development. This article aimed to review physiological changes during childhood and adolescence and their implications for nutritional requirements based on scientific literature. This article employed a narrative review method through literature searches conducted in several electronic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Garuda. The search strategy used combinations of keywords related to physiological changes, nutritional requirements, diet, children, and adolescents. The selected literature was determined based on thematic relevance, full-text availability, and its association with physiological changes and nutritional requirements in children and adolescents. The review findings indicated that preschool and school-age children require adequate energy and nutrient intake to support growth, physical activity, and cognitive development. Meanwhile, adolescents experience increased requirements for energy, protein, iron, calcium, and vitamin D due to accelerated growth and hormonal changes during puberty. In addition to physiological factors, dietary patterns among children and adolescents are also influenced by family environment, lifestyle, and social media exposure, which may increase the risk of obesity, anemia, and micronutrient deficiencies. Therefore, adequate nutritional intake according to developmental stages and the role of healthcare professionals in nutrition education are essential to support optimal growth and development in children and adolescents.

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