Just the Berries: concerns about young women's nutrition.
During late adolescence and into their early 20s, women risk a multitude of nutritional imbalances as nutrient requirements peak while lifestyle choices can compromise dietary intake. Most focus on this age group tends to be about issues of weight: obesity, dysfunctional eating, and eating disorders. Although these are important, this emphasis does not capture the full spectrum of nutritional health concerns of today’s young women. Dietary defi ciencies, most notably iron, calcium, and folate, are commonly related to inadequate energy intake or the omission of whole food groups. This article highlights current knowledge about the nutritional health of young Canadian women, profi les trends in their eating patterns, and suggests how family practitioners can support these patients in achieving and maintaining good nutrition.