Why Your Needs Are Different Right Now

Your Body Is on Its Own Timeline

It can be easy to compare what you eat to friends, family, or social media.

But your body is not the same as anyone else’s.

And it is not meant to be.

Growth Changes Everything

During adolescence, your body needs more nutrients to support:

• Growth in height and bone mass

• Muscle development

• Hormonal changes

This means your needs are naturally higher than at other stages of life (Das et al., 2017).

Building Your Foundation

Up to 90 percent of your peak bone mass is built during your teen years (Bonjour et al., 2009).

This is your foundation for future health.

Nutrition plays a key role in building it well.

Why Comparison Doesn’t Work

Your needs depend on:

• Your growth stage

• Your activity levels

• Your genetics

• Your individual development

Two people the same age can have very different needs.

That is normal.

Hunger Is Not a Problem

Hunger is often misunderstood.

But during growth, hunger is a signal that your body needs support.

It is not something to ignore or control.

Your Body Knows What It’s Doing

Your body has a system that regulates:

• Hunger

• Energy

• Growth

When you listen to it, you support that system.

One Small Step

Notice one moment today where your hunger differs from someone else’s.

Remind yourself that this is normal.

Closing Thought

Your body is not random.

It is responding to what it needs.

REFERENCES:

Bonjour, J., Chevalley, T., Ferrari, S., & Rizzoli, R. (2009). The importance and relevance of peak bone mass in the prevalence of osteoporosis. Salud Pública De México, 51, S5-17. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0036-36342009000700004

Das, J. K., Salam, R. A., Thornburg, K. L., Prentice, A. M., Campisi, S., Lassi, Z. S., Koletzko, B., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2017). Nutrition in adolescents: physiology, metabolism, and nutritional needs. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1393(1), 21–33. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.13330