Nutritional Diseases and Deficiency Diseases Quiz

Nutritional Diseases

• A poor diet can cause various nutritional diseases, categorised into deficiency diseases and eating disorders.

Deficiency Diseases

• Caused by an unbalanced diet lacking essential nutrients.
• Distinguished from undernutrition, which occurs after a prolonged period of malnutrition.
• Signs of deficiency diseases: weight loss, stunting, decreased mental capacity, skin problems, hair thinning, and hair loss.

Eating Disorders

• Anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and obesity are the most frequent eating disorders.
• Anorexia nervosa: characterized by a distorted perception of body image, leading to excessive weight loss, depression, irritability, insomnia, abdominal pain, cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, low blood pressure, and constipation.
• Bulimia: characterized by excessive eating (binging) and purging, leading to changes in mood, depression, anxiety, dehydration, poor kidney function, muscle weakness, and problems with tooth enamel.
• Both anorexia nervosa and bulimia can cause severe undernutrition, leading to death.
• Obesity: a metabolic disease caused by excessive eating and a sedentary lifestyle, associated with heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, and back pain.

Health and Nutrition

• Actions to promote healthy eating and prevent nutritional diseases:
  • Encourage healthy eating habits from childhood.
  • Eat family meals at the same time each day to prevent unhealthy habits.
  • Avoid critical comments about physical appearance or weight.
  • Be aware of low self-esteem or body image.
  • Encourage exercise and an active lifestyle.
  • Limit access to fast food and sugary drinks.
  • Be aware of advertisements associating beauty and thinness with success and happiness.
  • Detect nutrition-related problems.