TOPIC 2 Flashcards
What are diagnostic tools used for?
Used to ascertain nutritional status and diagnose nutritional problems
What are diagnostic tools?
Scientific or mathematical tools used by doctors, dieticians nutritionists, scientists, researches and fitness professionals
What is Anthropometry
the study of measurements and proportions of the human body. It is a quick and reliable form of obtaining objective information about a persons nutritional status
What is the Body Max Index formula (BMI)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared
Where could exaggerated BMI results occur?
In people with higher lean tissue percentage e.g weight lifters, athletes
What is the waist circumference looking at?
Measurement of the central abdominal fat
What are some health risks associated with the central distribution of body fat?
includes diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease and some cancers
What waist circumference measurement are males and females at an increased and greater risk?
Increased risk
Females: 80cm or more
Males: 94cm or more
Greatly increased risk
Famles: 88cm or more
Males: 102cm or more
Why is the waist to hip ratio important?
Because it is not only about the amount of body fat you have, it is also about where your fat is stored which can impact your health.
Adults who store most of their body fat around their waists have an increased risk of…
high blood pressure type 2 diabetes, and CVD, compared with those with the same amount of body fat stored around their hips and thighs
What is the waist-to-hip measurment formula?
Waist measurement divided by hip measurement
What is the desirable result from the waist-to-hip measurement for both males and females
Females: Less than 0.8 is desirable
Males: Less than 0.9 is desirable
What is a weight for height table?
Comparison of weight and height to norms
What is a limitation to the weight for height tables?
It doesn’t allow for different frame sizes and body types
What are some Haematological tests?
Blood tests e.g for iron, HDL, cholesterol, triglyceriges, calcium and red cell folate
Tissue tests
Urine tests e.g for sugar and/or sodium excretion
What are immunology studies looking at?
Malnutrition can impair immune status. Cells responsible for immune mechanisms and antibody levels can be assessed
(These tests must be ordered by a doctor)
What are nutrient reference values?
The nutrient reference values are a set of recommended daily nutrient targets intended for your average healthy individual at different life stages. These are based on current available scientific knowledge.
What are some advantages of BMI?
Gives people a general guide as to whether their weight is healthy to asses their risk factors for diet/weight related diseases
What are some disadvantages/limitations of BMI?
Does not account for muscle mass. Muscle is heavier than fat and therefore those with more muscle mass e.g body builders or athletes, may show up as obsessed on the BMI.
BMI also doesn’t account for different genders
What are some advantages of the Waist circumference?
Inexpensive, non-invasive, minimal equipment, simple to perform
What are some disadvantages/limitations of the waist circumference?
-Measuring waist circumference can be inaccurate and misleading if improper techniques are used
-Doesn’t account for pregnant women
-Certain groups of people who may genetically have a different body shape
What are some disadvantages/limitations for weight to height tables?
Doesn’t take into about different frames and body types
What are some advantages of the waist to hip ratio?
Fairly obvious when observing where fat is stored
Can give a good indication as to whether or not the individual has increased risk of diseases
What are some disadvantages/limitations to the waist to hip ratios
Doesn’t factor in different medical conditions
What are some advantages to biochemical tests?
The tests are directly backed up by science.
A more individual specified measurement that will be different from person to person.
Provides greater insight than other methods
What are some disadvantages/limitations to biochemical tests?
Not easily accessible.
Can only be done by healthcare professionals
What are some advantages of the nutrient reference values?
Allows people to compare their daily intake to the vales to understand if they are meeting the requirements they need to maintain a healthy diet
- Can test for a range of both nutrient deficiencies and excesses
- Non-invasive
What are some disadvantages to the NRV?
-Nutrient analysis software may not be updated timely enough to match NRV changes and new food entering the market
-Time-consuming and costs may be involved (dietician/nutritionist)
-NRVs for each age gender and life stage are based on an average body weight
-Quality of results is dependent on participants’ accuracy in recording food intake and physical activity
What do the Australian dietary guidelines have information about and what do they aim to do?
provides information about the types and amounts of foods, food groups and dietary patterns that aim to:
- promote health and wellbeing
- Reduce the risk of diet-related conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity and reduce the risks of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, CVD and some types of cancer
The Australian Dietary Guidelines apply to…
All healthy Australians, as well as those with common heath conditions such as being overweight. They do not apply to people who need special dietary advice for a medical condition, or to the frail elderly
What is the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating?
Is a food selection guide which visually represents the proportion of the five food groups recommended for consumption each day.
Why are alcohol and discretionary foods (highly processed) off the plate?
Because they should only be consumed sometimes and in small amounts
Why do we need dietary guidelines?
-A healthy diet improves the quality of life and wellbeing, and protects against chronic diseases. For infants and children, good nutrition is essential for normal growth
-Unfortunately, diet-related chronic diseases are currently a major cause of death and disability among Australians
Many of the health problems due to poor diet in Australia stem from…
excessive intake of foods that are high in energy, saturated fat, added sugars and/or added salt but relatively low in nutrients. These include fried and fatty take-away foods, baked products like pastries, cakes and biscuits, savoury snacks like chips, and sugar-sweetened drinks. If these foods are consumed regularly they can increase the risk of excessive weight gain and other diet-related conditions and diseases.
Many diet-realted health problems in Australia are also associated with…
inadequate intake of nutrient-dense foods, including vegetables, legumes/beans, fruit and wholegrain cereals. A wide variety of these nutritious foods should be consumed every day to promote health and well-being and help protect against chronic disease.
Evidence suggests Australians need to eat more:
- vegetables and legumes/beans
- fruits
- wholegrain cereals
- reduced fat milk, yoghurt, cheese
- fish, seafood, poultry, eggs, legumes/beans (including soy), and nuts and seeds.
- red meat (young females only)
Evidence suggests Australians need to eat less:
- starchy vegetables (i.e. there is a need to include a wider variety of different types and colours of vegetables)
- refined cereals
- high and medium fat dairy foods
- red meats (adult males only)
- food and drinks high in saturated fat, added sugar, added salt, or alcohol (e.g. fried foods, most take-away foods from quick service restaurants, cakes and biscuits, chocolate and confectionery, sweetened drinks).
What is Guideline 1?
To achieve and maintain a healthy weight, be physically active and choose amounts of nutritious food and drinks to meet your energy needs
(Guideline 1) Children and adolescents should eat…
Sufficient nutritious foods to grow and develop normally. They should be physically active every day and their growth should be checked regularly
(Guideline 1) Older people should…
Eat nutritious foods and keep physically active to help maintain muscle strength and a health weight