According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, energy and protein needs during adolescence are primarily based on which criteria?

In determining the energy and protein needs of adolescents, height and weight are critical factors as they directly relate to growth and development during this crucial stage of life. Adolescents typically experience significant growth spurts, and their nutritional requirements must be adjusted accordingly to support this physiological process. Height provides a measure of the potential growth and skeletal development, while weight accounts for body mass and composition.

The needs for protein and energy increase as adolescents grow taller and gain weight, necessitating a balanced intake to support not only daily activities but also the increased metabolic demands of growth. Therefore, monitoring these two criteria allows healthcare providers to assess individual nutritional requirements effectively and ensure that adolescents are receiving adequate nutrients for their overall health and development.

Other factors such as activity level, while important, are secondary to height and weight in establishing foundational energy and protein requirements for adolescents. The same goes for diet and physical health, which are influenced by these primary growth parameters rather than serving as the primary basis for calculating nutritional needs.