Adolescent Nutrition: Policy and programming in SUN+ countries

In 2012, there were 1.2 billion adolescents in the world – defined as those between the ages of 10 and 19 years. Adolescence is a time of rapid physical growth, second only to the first year after birth; during adolescence, children gain up to 50% of their adult weight and skeletal mass and more than 20% of their adult height. Optimal nutrition during this period of life is therefore crucial. Poor nutrition during adolescence will not only affect adult body size, resulting in shortness or thinness (WHO, 2006), but may also affect the nutritional status of any children born to mothers who were malnourished during adolescence.

Save the Children commissioned this review in order to collate the experience of existing approaches for supporting adolescent nutrition in different contexts, with a focus on Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) countries and India. It aims to assess the extent to which adolescent nutrition is currently being addressed. It does not claim to provide an exhaustive literature review of research on adolescent nutrition, but does aim to share experience of different types of approaches and challenges to inform countries so that they can strengthen relevant policies and programmes to address the needs of this neglected demographic group.