Exploring obesity and starvation

 

What makes a healthy diet?

A healthy diet contains:

 

• Carbohydrates: e.g. dried fruits, potatoes and cereals
• Proteins: e.g. fish, yoghurt, eggs
• Fats: e.g. cake, cream, chocolate
• Vitamins and minerals: e.g. Found in fruits, and meats
• Fibre: e.g. Fruit, vegetables, nuts
• Water

 

If your diet is unbalanced, it can lead to health complications, such as obesity, malnutrition and starvation.

 

Malnutrition

If you don’t take in enough vitamins and minerals, you could end up with diseases such as scurvy which is caused by lack of Vitamin C. Some early symptoms of malnutrition include:

 

• Feeling tired all the time and lacking energy
• Taking a long time to recover from infections
• Delayed wound healing
• Irritability
• Poor concentration

 

Starvation

Starvation is caused by not taking in enough energy and nutrients over a prolonged period. It is the most extreme form of malnutrition. In humans, prolonged starvation can cause physical problems such as sever weight loss, muscle loss, dry skin and hair, infertility and fatigue. Both obesity and starvation can cause death.

 

Obesity

A person is said to be obese if they have such a high excess of body fat that their health might be affected.

Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on the height and weight of an individual. We can calculate a person’s BMI using the following formula:

BMI = mass (kg) ÷ height² (m²)

For example, if a person has a mass of 60 kg and a height of 1.65 m:

BMI = 60 kg ÷ 1.65²
BMI = 22 kg/m²

A person is overweight if their BMI is between 25 kg/m² and 30 kg/m². A person with a BMI over 30 kg/m² is said to be obese.
In the above example, the person can be described as being a healthy weight.

 

People with obesity have a very high BMI (above 30 kg/m²). Obesity can cause serious physical problems such as pain in the joints, heart disease, high blood pressure and difficulties with breathing.

 

 

Health problems related to obesity

 

🍎 Knowledge Check: Nutrition & Health

Test your understanding of obesity, starvation, and how an unbalanced diet affects the body.

1. Which term describes a diet that does not provide the correct balance of nutrients?

• Digestion
• Malnutrition
• Photosynthesis

2. If a person consumes more energy than they use up through activity, what happens to the extra energy?

• It is breathed out as carbon dioxide.
• It is stored by the body as fat.
• It disappears instantly.

3. Which deficiency disease is caused by a lack of Vitamin C?

• Rickets
• Scurvy
• Anaemia

4. What is a common health risk associated specifically with obesity?

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Increased muscle mass
• Better immune system

5. Rickets is a condition that affects bone development. Which two nutrients are usually lacking?

• Iron and Protein
• Vitamin D and Calcium
• Fats and Sugars

Check Your Answers

1. Malnutrition (This includes both over-nutrition and under-nutrition).
2. Stored as fat (The body keeps this as an energy reserve).
3. Scurvy (Common in sailors historically who didn't have fresh fruit).
4. Type 2 Diabetes (Also heart disease and high blood pressure).
5. Vitamin D and Calcium (Essential for strong, healthy bones).

 

 

Summary:

 

• The blood absorbs tiny particles that the digestive system makes by breaking down food.
• These particles give the body energy to grow, heal itself and stay healthy.
• The body gets rid of food that cannot be broken down as faeces (poo).