Question

1. Infants have unique nutrient needs. Briefly discuss three characteristics that affect nutrition needs

2. Describe two nutrition related concerns that threaten the health of older adults.

3. Describe up to three nutrition science concepts or evidenced based recommendations that have changed your eating/lifestyle choices.

Answer 1

Question 1

3 indicators of under nutrition in infants is stunting, wasting and underweight. Stunting is low height for age. It indicates chronic malnutrition /food deprivation. Wasting is low weight for height. It indicates acute malnutrition. Underweight is low weight for age. It indicates both acute and chronic malnutrition.

Other indicators of protein energy malnutrition are mid arm circumference /head circumference ratio, weight in kg/height in square metre, skin fold thickness measurement. In protein energy malnutrition, there will be signs such as hyperpigmentation of skin, alternate hypopigmentation and normal pigmentation of hair (flag sign), anemia, smooth tongue, cheilosis, anorexia, distended abdomen etc. Bitot spots, xerophthalmia, keratomalacia, corneal ulcers are features of Vitamin A deficiency. Bow legs, knock knee, soft skull, green stick fractures, costochondral swelling etc indicate Vitamin D deficiency. Hemorrhagic tendency may indicate Vitamin K deficiency.

Question 2

Physiological, social and economic factors affect the nutritional status of elderly. Physiological factors include chronic illness such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, arthritis, dementia etc affect the procurement and preparation of food. Other factors are medications that may cause suppression of appetite, pain, problems with chewing, swallowing, digestion, malabsorption etc

Social factors are religious restrictions on some types of food intake, need for special types of food preparation, fasting etc. Depression, loneliness and lack of motivation etc may affect nutritional status

Economic factors include cost of food, difficulty getting transportation, obtaining a different variety and sufficient amount of food.

Question 3

There are evidences suggesting that diet rich in fibres decrease the risk of colon cancer. Addition of fruits containing dietary fibre to the diet may help. Dietary fibres bind bile salts and produce soluble fibre products. Thus they help in colonic motility also.

Beverages containing added sugars will provide unnecessary calories which is unhealthy. This can get converted to fat, which get deposited in various body sites leading to morbid obesity, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, hypertension,diabetes mellitus, liver diseases etc. These sweetened beverages consumption should be reduced as much as possible.

Salt intake should be limited to not more than 5g per day. Excessive salt intake can directly lead to hypertension. The use of salted foods, pickles, pappads etc should be limited.