About this Research Topic
Children aged between 5 and 18 years old represent 1.8 billion individuals and one-quarter of the world's population. The period of middle childhood and adolescence is a bridge between the fastest and dynamic developmental stages of infancy to the stability of adulthood before eventual declines of elder age. Nutrition interventions during this period can impact long term health.
The transitioning from childhood to adulthood occurring during this period is marked by major physiologic changes that lead to somatic, cognitive, psychosocial maturation. During this period puberty marks a major point of discontinuity and gender-related divergence in child development, expressed by rapid changes in body size, shape, and function of most body systems (neuroendocrine axis, cardiovascular changes, bone size and mineralization, among others). All these resulting from the complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors, in particular adequate nutrition.
Yet, there is a dearth of health and nutrition data and research for middle childhood (5-9 years) and early and late adolescence (10-14 and 15-19 years) - the school-age years. Research on nutritional status and potential areas of nutrition intervention and outcomes for this age is also grossly lacking when compared to all other age groups.
More recently, scientific, public health, and academic groups are voices are recognizing this and calling attention to this life stage as a significant opportunity for action, including public policies and programs for school-age children to improve long-term health and productivity.
The aim of this Research Topic is to:
(i) capture the science related to major physiological changes occurring during critical period bridging childhood into adulthood and their nutritional requirements,
(ii) identify the most critical variables and consequences of inadequate school age nutrition
(iii) present potential approaches to improve nutrition during this life stage for a long term health impact.
We welcome Opinion/Perspective and Review articles as well as Original Research articles on Nutrition and Metabolism during middle childhood (5 -9 years) and adolescence (10 -19 years) as specified below:
1) Body Growth
- Metabolism with age and sexual dimorphism
-Nutrition: Macronutrient and micronutrient requirements for body growth and development
2) Metabolic Health and Pre-Diabetes: metabolic and nutritional requirements with age and sexual dimorphism
3) Brain Health and cognitive development: metabolic and nutritional requirements with age and sexual dimorphism
4) Behavioral changes and dietary Habits - Role of nutrition and changing needs
5) Nutrition and Reproductive Health
6) Immunity: metabolic and nutritional requirements with age and sexual dimorphism
7) Public Health Nutrition: Health impact of Nutrition and integration of established nutrition knowledge with tailored-made nutrition approach to children aged 5 to 14 years
Disclosure: FPM is an employee of Société des produits Nestlé, SA.
The transitioning from childhood to adulthood occurring during this period is marked by major physiologic changes that lead to somatic, cognitive, psychosocial maturation. During this period puberty marks a major point of discontinuity and gender-related divergence in child development, expressed by rapid changes in body size, shape, and function of most body systems (neuroendocrine axis, cardiovascular changes, bone size and mineralization, among others). All these resulting from the complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors, in particular adequate nutrition.
Yet, there is a dearth of health and nutrition data and research for middle childhood (5-9 years) and early and late adolescence (10-14 and 15-19 years) - the school-age years. Research on nutritional status and potential areas of nutrition intervention and outcomes for this age is also grossly lacking when compared to all other age groups.
More recently, scientific, public health, and academic groups are voices are recognizing this and calling attention to this life stage as a significant opportunity for action, including public policies and programs for school-age children to improve long-term health and productivity.
The aim of this Research Topic is to:
(i) capture the science related to major physiological changes occurring during critical period bridging childhood into adulthood and their nutritional requirements,
(ii) identify the most critical variables and consequences of inadequate school age nutrition
(iii) present potential approaches to improve nutrition during this life stage for a long term health impact.
We welcome Opinion/Perspective and Review articles as well as Original Research articles on Nutrition and Metabolism during middle childhood (5 -9 years) and adolescence (10 -19 years) as specified below:
1) Body Growth
- Metabolism with age and sexual dimorphism
-Nutrition: Macronutrient and micronutrient requirements for body growth and development
2) Metabolic Health and Pre-Diabetes: metabolic and nutritional requirements with age and sexual dimorphism
3) Brain Health and cognitive development: metabolic and nutritional requirements with age and sexual dimorphism
4) Behavioral changes and dietary Habits - Role of nutrition and changing needs
5) Nutrition and Reproductive Health
6) Immunity: metabolic and nutritional requirements with age and sexual dimorphism
7) Public Health Nutrition: Health impact of Nutrition and integration of established nutrition knowledge with tailored-made nutrition approach to children aged 5 to 14 years
Disclosure: FPM is an employee of Société des produits Nestlé, SA.
Keywords: Body, Brain, Behaviour, Sexual dimorphism, Nutrition, Metabolism, Public Health Nutrition
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
