The Role of a Diet in Preventing Underweight, Overweight, and Obesity

I have two friends who are on the opposite spectrum when it comes to weight.  Becky is extremely underweight.  Underweight is defined as having a body weight that is below a BMI of 18.5.  Becky has struggled to keep her weight on her life.  This has affected many aspects of her life. Because of Becky’s weight, she has had problems with fertility and had to do a series of fertility treatments that did a number on her body.  She seems to catch the colds or viruses that are floating around.  Sizer & Whitney (2013) discusses some of the risks of underweight being as increased susceptibility to quicker deterioration from illnesses, hospitalizations, tests, or surgery. 

Another friend of mine, Julie, struggles with being overweight and at times obese, the exact opposite of being underweight.  After the loss of her child and the subsequent birth of another child, she quickly gained an excessive amount of weight that she has been battling to lose for the past couple of years.  The interesting thing is, she suffers from many of the same health problems as Becky.  She struggles with fertility and seems susceptible to every illness that is being passes around.  It’s sadly fascinating how they are exact opposites but have the same health and mortality risks.  Being overweight is usually defined as having a BMI of 25 to 29 and obesity carries a BMI of 30 to 39. In some cases, extreme obesity is a problem and that is usually defined a having a BMI over 40.  While there are certainly risks to being underweight, being overweight or obese carries the greater amount of risk.  Sizer & Whitney (2013) listed several threats that face obese adults as; arthritis, pregnancy complications, gallbladder disease, gout, kidney stones, sleep and skin problems, and so many more that obesity is not considered to be a chronic disease. 

In both situations, nutrition plays a vital role in preventing these two health issues. The health of both women are poor and has the capability of affecting many aspects of their lives.  The best preventative measures they can do for themselves are to maintain a nutritionally sound diet.  Pay attention to calories in and calories out.  To lose weight, consume fewer calories than are being expended.  To gain weight, consume more calories than when is being burned. Becky may need to take extra care to eat foods that are calorie dense.  Julie needs to eat less calories that are nutrient dense. Both need to maintain healthy activity to keep metabolism's healthy.  Limiting sedentary activity and eat the right kinds of food that will help to keep the body’s metabolism functioning at a healthy and consistent rate.  Obesity prevention may and should be controlled through interventions on the individual behavior and on the social environment (Carraro & Garcia, 2003).  Becky and Julie are responsible to make the necessary behavior changes in order to prevent obesity or becoming underweight. The social environment can play a role and some changes may be needed in both women's environments in order to be successful in preventing the damaging affects of underweight, overweight, and obesity. The following video shares some need to know information about nutrition and health.

 

Carraro, R., & M García, C. (2003). Role of prevention in the contention of the obesity epidemic. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 57, S94-S96. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601808

iHealthTube (2013). Everything you need to know about nutrition and health.  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hslZFcGC80E

 

Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2013).  Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies (13th ed.).  Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.