Nutrition Case – Diet and Health in Australia
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NUTRITION
PART 1: Diet and Health in Australia (Red Headings Following the Syllabus)
Physical effects and economic costs of malnutrition (under and over nutrition) and diet related disorders
Malnutrition: a condition where one or more nutrients are not supplied to the body in correct amounts. And this is recognised in the following two:
Over – nutrition: Diet in which contains an excess of one or more nutrients. E.g. fats, carbohydrates (sugars) and protein.
Health conditions linked with over-nutrition include:
Obesity
Hypertension
Dental Caries
Under – nutrition: One or more nutrients are lacking in the diet. E.g. carbohydrates such as fibre and minerals (iron and calcium) and water.
Health conditions linked with under -nutrition include:
Anorexia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa
Constipation/diverticulitis
Anaemia
Osteoporosis
Diet – related disorders are those conditions not just related to nutrient intake.
Diseases linked with diet – related disorders include:
Diabetes
Food intolerances / Allergies
Causes, Physical and Economic Effects of the above Diet Disorders: [ 2 examples each ]
OVER-NUTRITION
1. Obesity (excess weight): When energy intake is greater than energy expenditure.
Physical effects:
– Excess fat is stored in adipose tissue (fat)
– Cardiovascular System is working twice as hard
– Fatigue
– Stress on body joints
– Reduced body temperature control
– Conditions form such as: Gall bladder disease, Cardiovascular disease, Respiratory disorders and Diabetes
Economic effects:
– Cost of hospital treatment
– Surgery
– Medicine
– Toll on ability to work
– Absenteeism
2. Hypertension (high blood pressure): Excess sodium can cause an imbalance of water in body cells, so the body retains water causing the heart to pump blood under pressure.
Physical effects:
– High blood pressure
– Brain haemorrhage
– Stroke
– Heart failure
– Kidney disease
Economic effects:
– Cost of hospital treatment
– Surgery
– Medicine
– Toll of ability to work
– Absenteeism
UNDER-NUTRITION
1. Anorexia Nervosa (self-induced weight loss): Psychological obsession with weight loss which can be triggered by:
Puberty onset
Low self-esteem
Influence of media on body image perceptions
Physical effects:
– Muscle wasting
– Abnormally low body weight
– Absence of consecutive menstrual cycles
– Low blood pressure
– Death in extreme cases
– Burnt oesophagus
Economic effects:
– Special wards
– Psychological counselling
– Use of expensive resources to treat the condition e.g. overseas clinics
2. Anaemia (Low iron in blood): Low iron in blood can result from:
Blood loss
Inadequate intake of iron
Reduced absorption of iron
Repeated pregnancies
Physical effects:
– Chronic lethargy
– Headaches
– Dizziness
– Heart palpitations as the heart pumps fasters to deliver required oxygen needs to muscles
Economic effects:
– Iron supplements needed
– Need to be treated with blood transfusions
Nutritional considerations for specific groups…
Specific community groups have particular nutritional needs and these depend on:
> Physical State
> Age
> Health Status
> Level of exercise
> Nationality
Within the Australian community, specific groups with special requirements such as being under or over nutritioned include:
> Adolescent girls
> Pregnant and lactating women / teenagers
> Vegetarians
> Athletes
> Elderly
> Post-menopausal women
> Middle-aged men who live alone
> Individuals with specific health conditions e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease