Popular Dietary Models - Industrialisation of Food and Fad Diets

Question 1

How food intake went wrong!

Answer 1

• Prior to the 12th century, our ancestors were hunters and gatherers.
• Crop and animal farming evolved over time with increasing emphasis on high yields and profit.
• Industrialisation accelerated after the 2nd World War. Food started to be produced in factories and people began dining out.
• Fertilisers and pesticides became widespread. Factory farming, intensive livestock rearing and the use of pharmaceuticals are common in today’s meat production. The use of growth hormones in the US is common practice in beef cattle and sheep.
• Extensive food additives and food preservation (profit over health) became important.
• Counting calories took priority over considering the nutritional quality of food.
• Consumer eating habits have shifted to include take-away foods, dining out, pre-packed meals, eating on the run.
• Modern society has become considerably less aware about the nutritional content of the food it eats.

Question 2

Costs associated with the industrialisation of food:

Answer 2

• Pesticide toxicity: Herbicides and insecticides.
• Water pollution: From fertilisers and pesticides.
• Soil depletion: Monoculture depletes soil of nutrients, impacting biodiversity and ecosystems.
• Antibiotic resistance: Overuse of antibiotics in animal stocks.
• Junk food: With costly and serious health impacts.
• Chemical-laden ‘foods’ contribute to diseases that affect quality and length of life.
• Chronic health issues e.g. obesity, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease are at an all-time high.

Question 3

Today’s diet:

Answer 3

• High intakes of red meat and processed meats.
• Pre-packaged foods
• Fried foods.
• High consumption of dairy products.
• Refined grains.
• High-sugar and high-salt products
• Soft drinks, coffee, chocolate, alcohol, synthetic foods.
• Pasteurised foods, microwaved and irradiated foods, GM foods.
• Junk food, snacking, overeating, poor food combining, eating out of season.

Question 4

‘Fad diets’:

Answer 4

• In the 1990’s, numerous popular diet books, so called ‘fad diets’, appeared on the market.
• More diets aimed at addressing specific health issues have been proposed.
• Having an understanding of the principles and aims of different diets is important to know and understand, so that you can change a client’s diet to promote optimal health.