Which statement about teenage energy needs is true?

Which statement about teenage energy needs is true?

• A. Adolescents require high calories to meet growth.
• B. Adolescents require low calories.
• C. Adolescents require no protein.
• D. Adolescents require reduced protein.

Answer: (A)

During adolescence, rapid growth and puberty drive a big rise in energy use. The body is building new tissues—bone, muscle, organs—and supporting higher activity levels, which requires more calories. Protein remains essential to supply amino acids for growth, but the overall energy deficit must be avoided to allow that growth to happen. So saying that teenagers require high calories to meet growth is the accurate statement. The ideas of low or reduced protein don’t fit with the need to support rapid tissue development, and claiming no protein would undermine growth entirely. In short, energy needs rise in teens to fuel growth and activity, with protein providing the building blocks but not substituting for adequate calories.

During adolescence, rapid growth and puberty drive a big rise in energy use. The body is building new tissues—bone, muscle, organs—and supporting higher activity levels, which requires more calories. Protein remains essential to supply amino acids for growth, but the overall energy deficit must be avoided to allow that growth to happen. So saying that teenagers require high calories to meet growth is the accurate statement. The ideas of low or reduced protein don’t fit with the need to support rapid tissue development, and claiming no protein would undermine growth entirely. In short, energy needs rise in teens to fuel growth and activity, with protein providing the building blocks but not substituting for adequate calories.