DQ: Discuss why nutrition is a central component in health promotion

DQ: Discuss why nutrition is a central component in health promotion

these factors contribute to the prevention of diseases, such as high cholesterol, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, or cancer (Healthy People 2020, 2022). As well as any other diseases a patient may be at risk for due to genetics. The nation suffers from a high rate of obesity, 1:3 adults are obese, 1:6 children and adolescents are also obese (Healthy People 2020, 2022). Nutrition is the central component in health promotion because of their impact on developing such things.

There are a few nutritional challenges the emerging population deals with, some entirely out of the people’s control. Malnutrition is commonly caused by unhealthy diets (WHO, 2018). The food systems available now do not provide nutritious foods for the people (WHO, 2018). In perspective, there are some areas of the world where people are not eating enough to gain the correct amount of nutrients needed to survive or maintain a healthy lifestyle (WHO, 2018). Whereas on the opposite end, some people are eating too much food, of which are also not nutritious, filled with fats or sugars, and can commonly end in obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease, high blood pressure, as mentioned previously (WHO, 2018). A common nutrition challenge is something called hidden hunger (WHO, 2018). This is where the individual appears to be healthy, however they suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiencies (WHO, 2018). A consequence of this is anemia, which affects 613 million women worldwide, and also plays a large role in maternal death (WHO, 2018). Another aspect of malnourishment is the common fad diets that are circulating. Nutrition deficients affect more than the BMI of a person. Individuals who are malnourished may experience diseases such as, rickets, hypocalcemia, scurvy, vitamin K deficiency, pellagra, iron deficiencies, beriberi, protein energy malnourishment, and osteomalacia (WIC, 2018). Deficiencies of vitamin K can result in severe heart issues (WIC, 2018). Nutrition malnourishment can cause cell injury, as well as many other health issues. Health is wealth.

Healthy People 2020. (2022). Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/leading-health-indicators/2020-lhi-topics/Nutrition-Physical-Activity-and-Obesity.

Women, Infants, and Children. (2018) Nutrition Deficiency or Disease. WIC Nutrition Risk. Retrieved from https://health.mo.gov/living/families/wic/localagency/wom/pdf/341-definition.pdf.