As National Nutrition Month comes to an end, I am reminded how nutrition isn’t just about cutting calories and eating healthy. There is so much more that we don’t think about on a regular basis, unless it affects the patients in our care or our personal lives.

I regularly visit an adolescent sports medicine facility with one of my children. The clinicians there deal with a variety of conditions and issues, ranging from orthopedic injuries and concussions to eating disorders and, in our case, impaired growth related to caloric expenditure through sport.

Some people may see a kid who is fit and active and think “Wow, he is so lucky!” I see a kid who is competitive to the point that his growth charts have taken some sharp declines during a critical adolescent growth period. While I’m proud of his commitment and determination, I also am concerned for his growth and development.

We are fortunate to have a great resource in our area that has helped us turn things around for my son. He is a swimmer and a runner who trains for hours each day, and to meet his nutritional needs for sport and catch-up growth, he must take in over 5,000 calories each day! Sounds easy, right? Actually, it is a challenge and requires quite a bit of hard work. I ask that you let this post serve as a reminder to be open to the struggles of others; sometimes the problems they face aren’t as simple as you may think.

For some related reading on this topic and more on nutrition, explore Nutrition Today, a journal with articles written by “leading nutritionists and scientists who endorse scientifically sound food, diet, and nutritional practices,” including the following related to sports nutrition:

• Risky Business: Dietary Supplement Use by Athletes
• Summit on Human Performance and Dietary Supplements Summary Report [CE]
• Protein Power: Answering Athletes’ Questions About Protein
• Nutrition for Athletic Youth With Weight Concerns: Chron’s Disease and Disordered Eating Cases
• Energy Drinks, Caffeine, and Athletes [CE]