Comparing nutritional requirements across the life course

What this note covers

1. Requirements change with growth, body size and physiology
2. Infancy and childhood combine rapid growth with small food capacity
3. Adolescence adds puberty, bone accumulation and changing independence
4. Pregnancy and lactation involve specific nutrients, not eating for two
5. Older adulthood changes energy needs, function and risk of inadequate intake
6. A life-stage comparison must remain evidence-based and practical

6 sections · 10 key terms & formulas · 6 common mistakes