Nutrition for Adolescents and Young Adults with chILD
For Adolescents and Young Adults
A healthy weight is very important to keeping the lungs healthy and strong.
Try to eat a balanced diet with a wide variety of healthy foods. Set regular meal and snack times and closely watch what and how much you eat.
People with lung disease can have trouble growing and gaining weight. This is because they may use more energy (calories) to breathe. They usually need to eat more calories than people without lung disease. Your medical team may include a dietitian who can help make sure you are eating what you need to grow.
People with lung disease can have problems with acid reflux disease (GERD) and gastrointestinal dysmotility (trouble moving the food through the gastrointestinal system). This might cause poor appetite, belly aches, and/or vomiting. Your care team may have you see a gastroenterologist (stomach doctor) to help with these symptoms.
Poor appetite can also be due to chronic fatigue and mood problems like depression. Talk to your doctor about your appetite and relationship with food.
Some people need to use a feeding tube to make sure they get enough nutrition. You might need a feeding tube if:
The decision to have a feeding tube can be hard to make. There are different types of feeding tubes. The names of the tubes are based on how they enter the body and where the feeds go. Your medical team can help you decide the best tube type for you.
| Tube Type | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Nasogastric tube (NG tube) | Placed through the nose and feeds into the stomach. Temporary — will need to be changed at times. |
| Nasojejunal tube (NJ tube) | Placed through the nose but guided past the stomach and into the upper small intestine (jejunum). Temporary — will need to be changed at times. |
| Gastrostomy tube (G tube) | Placed through the abdominal wall and into the stomach. |
| Gastrostomy-Jejunostomy (GJ tube) | Placed through the stomach but guided past it into the jejunum. Has two ports — one to the stomach and one to the jejunum. |
| Jejunostomy (J-tube) | Placed through the abdominal wall straight into the small intestine. |
There are many ways to use feeding tubes. Some people get feeds through the tube all at the same time (like a meal or snack). Other people get feeds through the tube slowly over a longer period (like while sleeping at night).
The feed (or formula) is poured into a feeding bag, travels through the infusion tubing, and enters the body. You can adjust how quickly or slowly you get the feed. You are able to continue normal activity while feeds are running. People with tubes can take baths, showers, and swim. Make sure to dry the skin around the tube. If you use a dressing and it gets wet, replace it with a new, dry one.
Your care team will teach you:
Keep in mind that as your weight changes, you may need a larger size tube and a new feeding schedule.
People tend to adjust quickly to feeding tubes. They can give you an easier way to get the calories you need to stay healthy.
Aspiration — When food or liquid goes into the lungs instead of down the esophagus (swallowing tube). Can cause lung irritation or infection.
Dietitian — A nutrition specialist who can help design a meal plan to make sure you get enough calories and nutrients.
Dysphagia — Trouble swallowing.
Gastroenterologist — A doctor who specializes in the digestive system, including the stomach and intestines.
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) — A condition where stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus, causing discomfort. Common in people with lung disease.
Gastrointestinal dysmotility — When the muscles of the digestive system don’t move food through the body normally.
G tube (Gastrostomy tube) — A feeding tube placed through the abdominal wall directly into the stomach.
GJ tube (Gastrostomy-Jejunostomy tube) — A feeding tube that passes through the stomach and into the jejunum (upper small intestine). Has two openings.
J-tube (Jejunostomy tube) — A feeding tube placed directly into the jejunum through the abdominal wall.
Jejunum — The upper part of the small intestine where nutrients are absorbed.
NG tube (Nasogastric tube) — A temporary feeding tube inserted through the nose and into the stomach.
NJ tube (Nasojejunal tube) — A temporary feeding tube inserted through the nose and guided into the jejunum, bypassing the stomach.
This information is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for the medical advice of your child’s healthcare provider.
Ready to proceed? Use the buttons to navigate.
The information provided here is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
