WEEK 3: Evolutionary and Environmental Perspectives On Health And Diseases Flashcards
Outline the link between nutrition, obesity and I’ll health
Excessive eating results in obesity which is a risk factor and cause of other disorders and health complications
Outline the complications of excess weight
*Cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart failure
*Cerebrovascular disease
*Diabetes mellitus
*Gall bladder disease
*Gout
*Cancer (several types)
*Endocrine abnormalities
*Kidney dysfunction
*Liver damage
*Pulmonary function impairment
*Accelerated deterioration of the joints
*Increased mortality rate (4x cf individuals of desirable body weight)
*Asthma
Describe the set point theory of hunger and eating (negative feedback mechanism )
Hunger signals are triggered when the body’s energy resources fall below set point which results in food intake
Satiety signals are triggered when the body’s energy resources rise above or at set point hence ceases eating
Describe the positive incentive theory of hunger and eating
It explains that from the beginning people where made in their genetic program and their experiences in such a way that they like certain tastes that are associated with food in nature
E.g We have a high positive incentive for salty, sweet and fatty taste
They are associated with vitamins, minerals and mostly energy rich
Why do humans have low positive incentive for bitter and sour tastes?
Because bitter is associated with toxic and poisonous
Describe the theory of thrifty phenotype and genotype
Thrifty phenotype:
Describe the proximate perceptive on I’ll health
Deals with physiological mechanism
E.g
Stimulation of the vomiting centre in morning sickness
Describe the evolutionary perspective on ill health
Based on adaptive mechanism
E.g
Morning sickness is an adaptive mechanism to remove any toxic chemicals that may harm the foetus at the first trimester as it is more sensitive
