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Epidemiology

Nutritional adequacy of diets for adolescents with overweight and obesity: considerations for dietetic practice

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 71, pages 646–651 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Adolescents have unique nutrient requirements due to rapid growth and development. High rates of obesity in adolescents require a variety of diet interventions to achieve weight loss under clinical supervision. The aim of this study is to examine the nutritional adequacy of energy-restricted diets for adolescents.

Subjects/Methods:

Three popular diets were modelled for 7 days and assessed by comparing the nutrient profile to the Australian Nutrient Reference Values. Three diets were: (1) a standard energy restricted diet based on current dietary guidelines; (2) a modified carbohydrate diet; and (3) a modified alternate day fasting diet.

Results:

Initial modelling revealed limiting nutrients (that is, not meeting the recommended intakes) across the diets. Subsequent modelling was required to achieve nutritional adequacy for all three diets. The dietary guidelines diet design met most nutrient targets except essential fatty acids before subsequent modelling, however this diet also provided the highest energy (8.8 vs 8.0 MJ and 6.8 MJ for the modified carbohydrate and modified alternate day fasting diet, respectively).

Conclusions:

Energy-restricted diets need careful consideration to meet nutritional requirements of adolescents. A variety of eating patterns can be adapted to achieve nutritional adequacy and energy restriction, however health practitioners need to consider adequacy when prescribing diet interventions for weight loss during adolescence.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the University of Sydney and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Australia. NBL is supported by the Sydney Medical School Foundation.

Author contributions

NBL designed the study, conducted the dietary modelling and analysis, drafted and finalised the content of the manuscript for submission. SPG, MLG, KC, AG and LAB contributed to study design, reviewed the manuscript and approved the final submitted manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    N B Lister, M L Gow & S P Garnett

  2. Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    N B Lister, M L Gow, S P Garnett & L A Baur

  3. Nutrition and Dietetics and Weight Management Services, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    K Chisholm & A Grunseit

Authors
  1. N B Lister
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  2. M L Gow
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  5. S P Garnett
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  6. L A Baur
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Correspondence to N B Lister.

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Supplementary Information accompanies this paper on European Journal of Clinical Nutrition website

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Lister, N., Gow, M., Chisholm, K. et al. Nutritional adequacy of diets for adolescents with overweight and obesity: considerations for dietetic practice. Eur J Clin Nutr 71, 646–651 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.268

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