unit 3: Conditions liked with undernutrition

• Conditions associated with undernutrition


  • Nutritional deficiencies
• Condition 1: Inadequate fibre


  Dietary fibre is required by the body to keep the digestive system healthy. It is found in plant foods such as cereals, vegetables, legumes, fruit, nuts and seeds. Eating at least three serves of vegetables, two serves of fruit and some cereal every day should provide adequate fibre in the diet.
• Fibre


  Also known as roughage, is made up of the indigestible part of plant foods. Fibre passes relatively unchanged through our stomach and intestines, although bacteria in the large intestines can partly digest fibre by fermenting it.
• Fibre


  Helps by stabilising glucose and cholesterol levels. A diet high in dietary fibre is vital to maintain the health of the digestive system. The digestive system is lined with muscles that massage food along the tract-since fibre is relatively indigestible, it adds bulk to aid digestion and help pass waste from the bowel.
• Physical effects of inadequate fibre in the diet


  • Haemorrhoids
  • Constipation
  • Bowel cancer
  • Diverticular Disease
  • Raised blood cholesterol
  • Diabetes
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
• Economic effects of inadequate fibre in the diet


  • Doctors appointments
  • Surgery
  • Hospitalisation
  • Time away from employment leading to lack of productivity
  • Cost of treatment
  • Employment-sick leave
  • Length of time for treatment
• Condition 2: Inadequate iron


  Iron is the central part of the structure of haemoglobin, which is the oxygen-carrying protein in the blood. When a person is anaemic, their heart has to work harder to pump the quantity of blood needed to get adequate oxygen around their body. During heavy exercise, the cells may not be able to carry enough oxygen to meet the body's needs and the person may become exhausted.
• Causes of iron deficiency anaemia


  • Blood loss
  • Inadequate dietary intake of iron
• Eating iron-rich foods


  Usually provides enough iron, but some people may need to source a higher intake, particularly those who consume a specific diet and some women when menstruating.
• Economic effects of anaemia


  • Less output due to lethargy
  • Need to treat with blood transfusions
  • Iron supplements
• Physical effects of anaemia


  • Feeling of weakness and faintness
  • Lack of energy
  • Persistent headaches
  • Palpitations (rapid beating of the heart)

  
• Condition 3: Inadequate calcium


  The most common disorder associated with a lack of calcium in the diet is osteoporosis. This is where the bones have lost calcium and other minerals, which makes them more fragile and increases their chance of fracturing.
• In Australia, osteoporosis affects one in two women and one in three men over the age of 60.

  
• Peak bone mass


  Maximum bone density, achieved in early twenties. Building a higher peak bone mass early in life helps prevent osteoporosis later in life.
• It is essential to eat enough calcium-rich foods and do regular physical activity (high impact or weight bearing) during the first twenty years of life to help achieve a healthy maximum bone density.
• After peak bone mass, a woman's bones gradually lose minerals and strength. For the 5 to 10 years following menopause, there is a sharp decline in the amount of the hormone oestrogen in a woman's body. During this time, women may lose 2% of their bones per year.
• In men, bone loss generally occurs after the age of 50, but does not occur at the same rate as in women. By age 65, both men and women lose bone at the same rate.
• Physical effects of osteoporosis


  • Gradual loss of calcium from the skeleton results in bones that are weak, less dense and more prone to breaking, even with only slight trauma
  • Unable to support the weight of the body, the bones may deform or fracture
  • Crush fractures are caused by the weight of the body alone, in the absence of trauma
• Economic effects of osteoporosis


  • As Australia's population ages, the incidence of osteoporosis will increase, especially if our society ignores the preventable measures that should be followed in relation to diet and exercise
  • In 2012, the total cost of poor bone health in Australia in people over 50 years of age was $ 2.75 billion
  • By 2022, the total costs are predicted to be $ 3.84billion
  • Over the next 10 years, poor bone health could cost Australians around $1 billion