HCS308 Week 5 – Final Project

Week 5 – Final Project
Nutrition and Disease

Source: https://www.raps.org/news-and-articles/news-articles/2018/7/nutrition-in-health-and-
disease-management
One’s diet choices have a huge impact on their overall health and wellbeing. Some of the
leading causes of death, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancers, are directly linked to
nutrition (Sizer, 2017). As one grows old, they may suffer from various serious conditions that
could be prevented by proper nutrition (Abate et al., 2017). Poor nutrition habits result in heart
diseases, diabetes, dental problems, and adult bone loss. While diseases are a result of many
factors, including genetic factors, nutrition choices have a huge impact on the likelihood of
developing these conditions (Sizer, 2017). A healthy and balanced diet ensures that individuals
get the necessary nutrients that the body requires. Eating healthy also ensures that one maintains
an ideal weight. On the other hand, the consumption of junk foods results in one adding
unnecessary weight that is linked to chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

WEEK 5 – FINAL PROJECT 3

Source: https://www.pcrm.org/news/health-nutrition/diet-related-diseases-are-leading-cause-
death-us
On the other hand, failure to get the much-required nutrients results in malnutrition.
Malnutrition results when one eats a diet that does not have a healthy amount of the nutrients.
Poverty is closely associated with malnutrition because the poor are often unable to afford
nutritious foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables (Pelletier et al., 1995). Foods that contain high
amounts of salt and sugar are readily available, and this compounds the problem. Women,
children, infants, and adolescents are at risk of malnutrition. Children exposed to malnutrition
may have a low weight-for-height, and this increases the risk of death.

WEEK 5 – FINAL PROJECT 4

References

Sizer, F. (2017). Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies, 14th Edition. [Bookshelf Online].
Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781305886865/
Pelletier, D. L., Frongillo Jr, E. A., Schroeder, D. G., & Habicht, J. P. (1995). The effects of
malnutrition on child mortality in developing countries. Bulletin of the World Health
Organization, 73(4), 443.
Abate, G., Marziano, M., Rungratanawanich, W., Memo, M., & Uberti, D. (2017). Nutrition and
AGE-ing: Focusing on Alzheimer’s Disease. Oxidative medicine and cellular
longevity, 2017.

WEEK 5 – FINAL PROJECT 5

Factors Influencing Nutrition

Making healthy nutritional habits is easy in theory. Healthy choices mean that one needs
to choose appropriate amounts of essential nutrients while avoiding excessive intake of fat and
sugar. However, executing healthy nutritional habits is a complicated task (Wise, 2015). There
are many factors that influence one’s food choices. The food industry has a large number of
foods that are available to all consumers. Many of these foods are heavily processed and lack the
essential nutrients (Wise, 2015). The irony is that the huge variety of foods available makes it
complicated for one to plan and chose a healthy diet. One factor that plays a role in defining food
choices is convenience. In today’s world, people are keeping up with busy schedules. The
implication is that people lack enough time to prepare food. One thus resorts to eating highly
processed foods. The American culture of consuming fast foods and takeaways means that many
people are concentrating on consuming fast foods, and this is resulting in an obesity pandemic.

Source: https://shakiratfalli.wordpress.com/2014/12/09/nutrition-21-3/

WEEK 5 – FINAL PROJECT 6
Culture is also an important factor that defines food choices. Food is connected to culture,
and enjoying certain cuisines is seen as a way of celebrating a particular culture. Culture thus
influences our food choices. Another important factor that defines food choices is taste.
Individuals are willing to spend a significant amount of their earnings on food prepared outside
the home (Sizer, 2017). People are also willing to prepare food that can only be prepared in a
short period of time. Eating away from home has resulted in many people failing to consume
enough fruits and vegetables. The media has also played a dominant role in influencing our food
choices. The media advertises certain foods in a sensational way. Fast foods are widely
consumed due to the role that the media plays. Social norms also define our eating habits.
Certain norms dictated that when one is offered food, they cannot refuse.

WEEK 5 – FINAL PROJECT 7

References

Sizer, F. (2017). Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies, 14th Edition. [Bookshelf Online].
Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781305886865/
Wise, N. J. (2015). Pregnant adolescents, beliefs about healthy eating, factors that influence food
choices, and nutrition education preferences. Journal of midwifery & women’s
health, 60(4), 410-418.