SPORTS NUTRITION NEEDS FOR CHILD AND ADOLESCENT ATHLETES

SECTION I: NUTRITIONAL FOUNDATION
Sport Nutrition and Youth
Energy Needs and Body Composition Considerations
Carbohydrate Needs of the Young Athlete
Protein Needs of Young Athletes
Fat Needs
Vitamin and Mineral Needs
The Importance of Proper Fluid and Hydration

SECTION II: SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT ATHLETES
Effects of Caffeine, Nicotine, Alcohol, and Marijuana on Exercise Performance
Drugs, Steroids, and Youth
Clinical Considerations for the Child and Adolescent Athlete
Nutrition and the Overweight Athlete
Nutrition and the Weight-Conscious Athlete
Dietary Supplement Considerations for the Young Athlete
Exercise Prescription and Strength and Conditioning Considerations

SECTION III: A HANDS-ON, PRACTICAL APPROACH
How to Fuel Your Day
How to Fuel Your Workouts and Games

Index

As the number of child and adolescent athletes continues to increase each year, more children are being exposed to greater training volumes and increasing physical demands—making the need for nutritional and recovery guidance increasingly important. While massive amounts of empirical research are published each year on responses and adaptations to exercise and nutrition, a relative lack of this data is focused on children and adolescents.

Filling this need, Sports Nutrition Needs for Child and Adolescent Athletesexplores the optimal sports nutrition needs for the child and adolescent athlete in three, detailed sections. The first section—Nutritional Foundation—supplies a comprehensive look at topics that relate to nearly every athlete. It focuses on the need for optimal nutrition in youth athlete populations, highlighting energy, body composition, hydration, and both macro- and micro-nutrient requirements.

The second section—Special Considerations in Child and Adolescent Athletes—focuses on topics that are more specific. This section includes coverage of the impact of common recreational drugs on exercise performance, steroid use in youth and associated dangers, key elements of working with diabetic and other clinically relevant populations, as well as discussions that relate to overweight and weight-conscious athletes, respectively.

The final section—A Hands-On Approach—reviews nutritional programs for both child and adolescent athletes. It uses an easy-to-understand approach to discuss and apply situations that can challenge athletes, their parents, and coaches by making sure young athletes are well fueled and recovered for all sporting situations.

For the purposes of the research presented in this book, a child athlete is defined as an athlete between the ages of 7 and 12 years while an adolescent athlete is defined as an athlete 13–17 years of age.

Features
• Supplies practical recommendations for fluid and food needs of child athletes
• Considers hydration needs for youth athletes including practical considerations for chronic conditions, including asthma, cystic fibrosis, obesity, and diabetes
• Details clinical considerations for youth athletes with chronic conditions such as Type I & II diabetes and eating disorders
• Addresses the nutritional needs of youth athletes attempting to make weight, gain weight, and lose weight
• Examines the vitamin and mineral needs for exercising youth
• Presents strategies that can be recommended by coaches and educational professionals to facilitate implementation of proper nutritional guidance