Contemporary nutrition Flashcards
malnutrition
Malnutrition occurs when nutrients are not supplied to the body in correct amounts; either over nutrition (too much) or under nutrition (not enough)
over-nutrition - Overweight and obesity
Overweight: 10 to 19% above the ideal weight
Obese: a body weighing 20% or more above ideal weight
Physical effects: Increases risk of developing long-term health conditions: cardiovascular disease, hypertension (long term high blood pressure), type 2 diabetes
**Economic costs: **
- In 2018, obesity cost the Australian community $11.8 billion and if nothing is done, may cost an estimated $87.7 billion by 2032.
- The impact on the economy is large: overweight accounts for 8.6% of health expenditure;
over-nutrition - Dental caries
Scientific term to describe tooth decay or cavities
Cause: occurs when tooth enamel softens and breaks down, leaving underlying dentine susceptible to decay. Develop when carb is available to bacteria that naturally exists in mouth
Physical effects: pain from tooth decay, bad breath from action of bacteria, Eventually issues associated with lost or painful teeth - affecting food choices and nutrition.
Economic costs:
- Dental caries imposes a large cost on the Australian economy. That cost is estimated to be up to $1 billion per year
Prevention: balanced diet can support strength and maintenance of teeth and bones, cleaning teeth and flossing - washes away unwanted sugars that bacteria feed on, eat dairy produce and foods that supply calcium and phosphorus, rinsing mouth and drinking water
under-nutrition
Insufficient nutrients are supplied to the body leading to weight loss or nutrient deficiencies such as anaemia (iron, vitamin B12 or folate) or scurvy (vitamin C).
Impacts: weekend immune function, poor wound healing and loss of muscle mass, strength and function
Vulnerable groups: indigenous groups in remote areas (limited access to fresh produce, people suffering from diseases such as alcoholism (diet and nutrition absorption is poor
under-nutrition - Inadequate fibre
Fibre: Required by the body to keep the digestive system healthy. Fibre (roughage) made up of the indigestible part of the plant foods. Passes relatively unchanged through the stomach and intestine, although bacteria in large intensity can partly digest fibre by fermenting it.
Source: Found in plant foods such as cereals, vegetables, legumes, fruit, nuts and seeds.
Effect of fibre: helps by stabilising glucose and cholesterol levels
Physical effects: **
- Constipation
- Haemorrhoids: Swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum and anus that cause discomfort and bleeding. constipation that leads to straining in the toilet
- ** Irritable bowel syndrome: intestinal disorder causing stomach pain, diarrhoea constipation
- Diverticular disease: small pouches form in the intestine and can become inflamed
- Diabetes
**- Raised blood cholesterol
**Economic costs: doctors appointments, surgery and time away from employment leading to lack of productivity - creating financial burden on health system and economy
under-nutrition - Inadequate iron
Anaemia: deficiency of red blood cells or haemoglobin. Heart has to work harder to pump quantity of blood needed to get adequate oxygen around the body. Red blood cells carry oxygen using protein, haemoglobin. Formation relies on supply of iron.
Symptoms: pale skin, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite
Prevention: eating iron-rich foods (red meat), may need to source higher intake for people with specific diet and some women when menstruating
under-nutrition - Inadequate calcium
Osteoporosis: bones have lost calcium and minerals which makes them fragile and increase chance of fracturing
- by 20’s, peak bone mass is achieved - bones are at their strongest - building higher peak bone mass early in life helps prevents osteoporosis later
- 5-10 years following menopause, sharp decline in amount of the hormone oestrogen in a womens body
Psychological causes of undernutrition - Anorexia nervosa
Mental illness and eating disorder - self-induced weight loss by controlling the consumption of little to no food and excessive exercise
**Physical effects: **
- Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, signifies change in heart muscle, risk of heart failure increased
- Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis) - dry, brittle bones
- Muscle wastage, weakness
- Dehydration, can result in kidney failure
- Fatigue, fainting
- Dry hair and skin, hair loss
- Growth of downy layer of hair called lanugo all over body - effort to keep body warm
- Social isolation and impairment to performance, causes disability, medical complications
menstruation may cease (amenorrhea - abnormal absence of menstruation), causing infertility
Economic costs: Felt by individual and their family, support circle
- Caregiver stress
- Loss of family income
- Disruption to relationships
Psychological causes of undernutrition -
Bulimia nervosa
Mental illness and eating disorder - recurrent binge-eating episodes. Associated with feelings of losing control and shame, leading to self-induced vomiting, fasting, over exercising or misusing laxatives. Usually maintains an average weight - less recognisable than anorexia nervosa
- Starts with weight-loss dieting (depriving themselves of food), triggering their body’s starvation reaction - experiencing uncontrollable urge to eat. Feeling guilty, they repeat deprivation leading to binge/purge cycle
**Physical effects: **
- Difficulties with activities that involve food
- Loneliness caused by isolation
- Deceptive behaviours around food
- Fear of disapproval if illness becomes known
- Self-harm, substance abuse
- Sensitivity to reference about weight
Economic costs: significant costs to treat - one of the highest causes of mental health hospitalisation within Australia
