Which condition may require additional sleep in adolescents?

Adolescents experience significant physical and hormonal changes, which often include periods of rapid growth. This growth spurt typically occurs during early to mid-adolescence and is accompanied by increased demand for energy and essential nutrients. To support the body's growth processes, adolescents require not only adequate nutrition but also sufficient sleep.

Sleep plays a crucial role in growth and development. During sleep, especially during deep sleep or slow-wave sleep, the body releases growth hormone, which is essential for tissue growth and repair. When adolescents are going through rapid growth, they often need more sleep than their peers who are not experiencing such changes. This increased need for restorative sleep helps ensure proper growth and development during these critical years.

Other choices, such as sleep terrors, elevated zinc levels, and slowed metabolism, do not directly correlate with a general increase in sleep needs for adolescents. While sleep disorders and certain metabolic conditions might affect sleep quality or pattern, they do not imply that additional sleep is required in the same way that rapid growth does. Therefore, the correct emphasis on the necessity for additional sleep during periods of rapid growth underscores the importance of supporting adolescents through their developmental stages.