Question

how do nutritional needs change over time?
the number of calories needed increases throughout a persons lifetime.
the number of calories needed increases from infancy to young adulthood.
the number of calories needed increases from young adulthood until old age.
the number of calories needed remains the same from young adulthood throughout old age.

Explanation:

• For the first option: Calorie needs do not increase throughout a lifetime. In old age, metabolic rate slows and calorie needs often decrease, so this is incorrect.
• For the second option: From infancy (rapid growth, high energy needs for development) to young adulthood (still growth and active lifestyle in many cases), calorie needs generally increase. This is consistent with human development and metabolic patterns.
• For the third option: After young adulthood, as people age, muscle mass may decrease, metabolism slows, and activity levels might reduce, so calorie needs typically decrease, not increase, from young adulthood to old age.
• For the fourth option: Calorie needs change with age, activity level, and body composition changes from young adulthood to old age, so they do not remain the same.

Answer:

B. The number of calories needed increases from infancy to young adulthood.