One minute you are hoping they will stay asleep just a little bit longer —the next you are pleased to get them up before lunch! Both boys and girls experience another growth spurt, whilst girls also have to deal with starting their periods. An increasing awareness of their body image can lead to anxiety and dieting or increased exercise. All of this growth and change needs iron —and enough to allow them to study and learn effectively as well. To learn more about the vital role iron plays in our bodies see Why is iron so important for your health.
As their bodies are growing and need more iron, girls start losing iron on a regular basis with the start of their periods. After his growth spurt a boy is able to begin to recover his iron stores, but girls do not get this chance. As their bodies change, teenagers develop an increasing awareness of body image. At the same time they are beginning to have more control over their diet and the amount of exercise they do.
Dieting at this time of increased need for iron can have a big impact on their iron stores. Boys are also coming under greater pressure to fit a physical ideal than ever before, so be aware that if your son has started dieting, he might not be getting the iron he needs.
The increasing number of overweight and obese people often makes the news, and teenagers are included in this. Not only are more children overweight now than before, overweight children are also heavier than they were previously.
In fact, overweight teenagers are twice as likely to be iron deficient as those with a normal weight. Girls are particularly at risk of iron deficiency if they are overweight as they tend to grow faster and mature earlier than normal-weight girls.
This makes it even harder for them to get enough iron to meet their needs. Whether they are trying to lose weight, filling up on junk food, or making a lifestyle decision, diet choices can all have an impact on whether teenagers are getting the iron they need. Meat is an important source of iron, and vegetarians need to be careful to get plenty of iron from non-meat sources. However, iron from plant sources is not as easily absorbed as iron from animal sources, so it is important to eat a variety of iron-rich foods in combination with foods that help absorption.
Iron is needed during puberty for growth and to replace losses from periods, but it is also important for learning. Because of this role, it also is involved in brain function and helps keep our immune system strong. One common sign is fatigue.
Other symptoms may include shortness of breath; frequent colds and infections; poor concentration; pale skin; lightheadedness; irregular heart rate; headaches; and thin, brittle and concave-shaped nails. Deficient teen athletes may have lackluster training sessions and experience fatigue during workouts. Iron comes from a variety of foods: meat, poultry and seafood, as well as beans, nuts, enriched grain products and leafy green vegetables. Animal sources of iron which contain heme iron are more easily absorbed by the body, while plant sources non-heme iron should be eaten with a vitamin C source to help increase its absorption.
For example, serve iron-fortified cereals with strawberries, and cook beans with tomatoes in a chili. Cooking food in a cast iron pan also can increase iron content. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.
The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Blood and blood vessels. Home Blood and blood vessels. Iron deficiency - children. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Iron can be toxic Symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia Causes of iron deficiency in children Suggestions for parents — babies Suggestions for parents — young children Suggestions for parents — teenagers Diagnosis of iron deficiency Treatment for iron deficiency Where to get help Things to remember.
Iron can be toxic Iron is toxic in large doses. Low birth weight or premature babies are at increased risk of iron deficiency and will need iron supplements under medical supervision only. See your doctor for further advice. At around six months, two servings a day of plain, iron-fortified infant cereal mixed with breastmilk or infant formula can start to be given.
Plain pureed meats can soon be offered with other solids, once your baby is used to the cereal. Children aged one to five years — breastmilk contains a small amount of iron, but prolonged breastfeeding can lead to iron deficiency, especially if breastmilk replaces solid foods in the diet. Children who drink milk in preference to eating solid foods are in danger of iron deficiency.
Teenagers — adolescent girls are at risk because of a number of factors, including growth spurts at puberty, iron loss through periods menstruation and risk of under-nutrition due to fad dieting that restricts eating. In general — gastrointestinal disorders, such as coeliac disease, are a rare but possible cause of anaemia in children.
Suggestions for parents — babies Some suggestions to prevent iron deficiency in babies less than 12 months of age include: Have an iron-rich diet during pregnancy. Red meat is the best source of iron. Tests to check for anaemia should be conducted during pregnancy. If your doctor prescribes iron supplements, take them only according to instructions. Breastfeed your baby or choose iron-fortified infant formulas. Start giving your baby pureed foods when they are around six months of age.
Fortified baby cereal made with iron-fortified infant formula or breastmilk is generally the first food to offer. This is because of its iron content, but also because its texture is easy to change.
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