FSAI publish first report on nutrition for adolescents
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has released its first scientific report providing specific dietary guidelines for adolescents aged nine to 18. The report emphasizes that nutritional needs vary significantly based on individual growth stages, puberty, and physical activity levels.
Why it matters
These guidelines provide a standardized framework for public health, aiming to support healthy development and prevent long-term diseases during a critical growth period.
Dietary guidelines for girls and boys aged between nine and 18, have been published in the first scientific report to set out specific food-based dietary recommendations for the age group.
According to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), nutritional needs during adolescence can vary considerably, depending not only on age and sex, but also on body size, physical activity and the timing of puberty.
Developed by the FSAI Scientific Committee, the recommendations take account of these differences to provide a scientific basis for supporting healthy growth and development during this stage of life.
FSAI Chief Specialist in Public Health Nutrition Dr Mary Flynn said the authority was concerned about the flexibility of dietary guidance for adolescents.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Dr Flynn added that adolescence "isn’t just a teenage thing" and can begin at around eight years of age for girls and around 10 for boys.
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