DOES PUBERTY ALTER DIETARY HABITS IN ADOLESCENTS LIVING IN A WESTERN SOCIETY

Purpose: Puberty is considered to be a period with major behavioral ch anges and alterations in lifestyle. It is also assumed that important modifications in food habits would occur during pubertal maturation, p articularly in affluent societies. To test this hypothesis, we conduct ed a prospective survey in 193 adolescents (95 females and 98 males) a ged 9-19 years. Methods: Food intake was assessed using a 5-day dietar y diary method with weighing of most food intakes. Diaries were analyz ed for macronutrient consumption with a nutrition determination softwa re integrating food composition tables and 103 local food items. The s tage of puberty or sexual maturity was clinically assessed and rated f rom stage P1 (prepubertal) to P5 (adult). Results: The total energy in take which was within the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) was sig nificantly influenced by both pubertal maturation and sex when express ed in absolute terms, but by pubertal stages only when adjusted per ki logram of body weight. Compared with RDA, the macronutrient distributi on of the total energy intake showed an excessive quantity of fat (esp ecially saturated fatty acids) and an insufficient amount of carbohydr ate-rich fibers. The intakes of proteins, of which two out of three ca me from animal sources, were above RDA. Overall, these inadequacies in the macronutrient intake distribution were constant throughout pubert al maturation. Conclusion: This study indicates that the type of diet which has been linked with several chronic diseases in adults living i n developed countries already prevails before pubertal maturation. Thi s dietary pattern changes marginally during pubertal development. Ther efore, our investigation does not support the notion that ''bad'' food habits become particularly worse during the years of pubertal maturat ion.