Malnutrition

Question 1

What does malnutrition mean?

Answer 1

Malnutrition literally means ‘bad feeding’.

Question 2

What could malnutrition include?

Answer 2

-eating too much of all foods, so having a balanced diet but consuming more than needed
-having too little food
-eating food in the wrong proportions

Question 3

What three factors is the need for energy related to?

Answer 3

The need for energy is related to age, sex and activity.

Question 4

What happens if the diet contains more energy than the body needs?

Answer 4

If the diet contains more energy than the body needs, the excess will be stored as glycogen or fat.

Question 5

What happens if the diet contains less energy than the body needs?

Answer 5

If the diet contains less energy than the body needs, then the body’s own tissues will be broken down to be respired.

Question 6

How much glycogen can the body store?

Answer 6

The body can store a limited amount of glycogen, which allows the body to continue working even if the last meal was some time ago.

Question 7

How much fat can the body store?

Answer 7

The body can store an almost unlimited amount of fat to help the body survive periods without food.

Question 8

What is an obese person?

Answer 8

A person whose fat storage is beyond healthy limit is said to be obese.

Question 9

Storing excess food: overnutrition

Answer 9

Our food intake should not be so great that we store an unhealthy amount of fat.

Question 10

Which diseases is an obese person at risk from?

Answer 10

A person who is obese is at risk from a number of life-shortening diseases. including diabetes, breathing difficulties, atherosclerosis and arthritis.

Question 11

How can body mass be lost?

Answer 11

-by eating less ‘high-energy’ food, which will reduce the energy intake
-by taking more exercise, which will increase the energy use.

Question 12

What are the two extremes of protein deficiency?

Answer 12

There are two extremes of protein deficiency- kwashiorkor and maramus.

Question 13

How is kwashiorkor caused?

Answer 13

In kwashiorkor, the child may not have recieved enough milk, and may be forced onto a diet that is too high in carbohydrate.

Question 14

What can be the result of Kwashiorkor?

Answer 14

As a result the child may eat enough energy food, but because the diet is poor in protein when its body should be developing quickly, the mental and physical development of the child may be impaired.

Question 15

What happens to the limbs in Kwashiorkor?

Answer 15

The absence of protein means that the muscle development is very slow, and the limbs have a stick-like apperance.

Question 16

What happens to the abdomen in Kwashiorkor?

Answer 16

The swollen abdomen is caused largely by water from the blood plasma remaining behind in the body tissues.

Question 17

What happens to the liver in Kwashiorkor?

Answer 17

The liver is also swollen because it is working hard to make the proteins needed by the body from an inadequate dietary supply.

Question 18

What is Marasmus?

Answer 18

In Marasmus, the child has symptoms of general starvation. There is not enough energy food nor enough protein.W

Question 19

How is Marasmus caused?

Answer 19

Marasmus is caused by insufficient levels of all nutrients in the diet.

Question 20

What is the result of Marasmus?

Answer 20

All the body tissues waste away, and the child becomes very thin with a wrinkled skin.

Question 21

Where are Kwashiorkor and Marasmus common?

Answer 21

Kwashiorkor and Marasmus are common in countries where drought condition have lead to poor harvests, or where people have left their homes because of civil war.

Question 22

What must aid include?

Answer 22

Aid offered to these people must include both energy foods and the nutrients needed for growth.

Question 23

Which food is often provided as aid for Kwashiorkor and Marasmus?

Answer 23

Powdered milk is often provided, because it is light and easy to transport.

Question 24

What can be the downside to providing powdered milk?

Answer 24

It must be rehydrated with clean water to avoid any water borne diseases.

Question 25

What are the dangers of an unbalanced diet?

Answer 25

High blood pressure, tooth decay, coronary heart disease, constipation and bowel cancer.

Question 26

High blood pressure

Answer 26

Too much salt in the diet can cause water to be drawn into blood and blood pressure to rise, eventually damaging delicate blood vessels.

Question 27

Tooth decay

Answer 27

A diet with a high content of acidic, sugary foods can cause damage to tooth enamel and dentine.

Question 28

Coronary heart disease

Answer 28

Too much saturated fat and cholestrol can cause blockage to blood vessels supplying oxygen to heart muscle.

Question 29

Constipation and bowel cancer

Answer 29

Too little fibre means that faeces are not passed as regularly as they should be- the person is constipated. Bacteria can work on some of the trapped faeces and release chemicals that cause colon (large bowel) cancer.