[Nutrition of adolescent girls in Lorraine]

A survey concerning the nutritional habits, using the method of the dietary history, was undertaken among 273 girls aged 10 to 16 and examined at the Preventive Medicine Center in Nancy. The energy amount, on average 2,363 calories/day (9.88 MJ) and the distribution among the various nutriments differed little from the French recommendations. Energy intakes varied with bone ages and the socio-cultural level of parents. No intake changes were found with respect to the degree of overweight or to the growth peak. The study of the distribution of intakes according to the main groups of aliments showed the important place of dairy products (14.6%), breads (13.9%) as well as sweets and pastries (11.8%, 12.9%), distribution independent of age. Lunch represents the most important meal of the day (35.7%). Snacks provide as much energy as breakfast. The latter is insufficient in 20% of cases. However, this insufficiency is compensated during the day.