What does an unhealthy diet look like and malnutrition?
Malnutrition can take different forms: too much nutritional intake can result in over-
nutrition and obesity and too little nutritional can result in under-nutrition or starvation.
Malnutrition is lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat, not eating
enough of the right things, or being unable to use the food that one does eat.
Over-nutrition can lead to coronary heart disease, weight gain and obesity, type 2 diabetes
and stroke.
Coronary heart disease- This can occur through eating too many animal proteins that are
high in saturated fats. To maintain a healthy heart, people are advised to eat two or three
meals containing oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines or fresh tuna (not tinned)
per week, and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Regular exercise that raises the heart
rate and maintaining a healthy weight will help to prevent this.
Weight gain and obesity- Any food that is eaten in excess will be converted to fat and stored
in the body, which leads to weight gain and obesity. A healthy balanced diet together with
exercise will help people lose weight. Maintaining the correct weight for your height might
require a lifestyle change, such as changing what you eat and taking regular exercise.
Type 2 diabetes- This is also known as late or adult onset diabetes, but it is seen today in
children as young as nine years old. It is caused by eating too much fat and sugar. The
pancreas is either unable to produce enough insulin for the cells to absorb glucose from the
blood, or the body becomes resistant to the insulin that is produced. Symptoms of type 2
diabetes include thirst, excessive urination and extreme tiredness. It can be controlled by
diet alone, or by diet and medication. Type 2 diabetics do not normally need insulin.
Stroke- A stroke occurs when brain cells die because the oxygen supply has been
interrupted or stopped. Strokes are often caused by high blood pressure and one of the
main causes of this is eating too much salt, but obesity and lack of exercise can also
contribute to high blood pressure.
Under-nutrition
Specific nutrient deficiencies- This can result from a general lack of nutrients or a particular
nutrient. It is not often seen in developed countries, but can be common in developing
countries. Diets low in thiamine (vitamin B1) and magnesium may also cause low
concentration span. A diet rich in fruit and vegetables, fatty acids, bread and meat will help
poor concentration and behavioural problems.
A vegetarian diet is usually high in fibre and low in fat and this makes it a healthy diet. As
long as vegetarians are aware of the need to combine vegetable-based foods to make high
biological value proteins, they can get all the nutrients they need.
Malnutrition can take different forms: too much nutritional intake can result in over-
nutrition and obesity and too little nutritional can result in under-nutrition or starvation.
Malnutrition is lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat, not eating
enough of the right things, or being unable to use the food that one does eat.
Over-nutrition can lead to coronary heart disease, weight gain and obesity, type 2 diabetes
and stroke.
Coronary heart disease- This can occur through eating too many animal proteins that are
high in saturated fats. To maintain a healthy heart, people are advised to eat two or three
meals containing oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines or fresh tuna (not tinned)
per week, and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Regular exercise that raises the heart
rate and maintaining a healthy weight will help to prevent this.
Weight gain and obesity- Any food that is eaten in excess will be converted to fat and stored
in the body, which leads to weight gain and obesity. A healthy balanced diet together with
exercise will help people lose weight. Maintaining the correct weight for your height might
require a lifestyle change, such as changing what you eat and taking regular exercise.
Type 2 diabetes- This is also known as late or adult onset diabetes, but it is seen today in
children as young as nine years old. It is caused by eating too much fat and sugar. The
pancreas is either unable to produce enough insulin for the cells to absorb glucose from the
blood, or the body becomes resistant to the insulin that is produced. Symptoms of type 2
diabetes include thirst, excessive urination and extreme tiredness. It can be controlled by
diet alone, or by diet and medication. Type 2 diabetics do not normally need insulin.
Stroke- A stroke occurs when brain cells die because the oxygen supply has been
interrupted or stopped. Strokes are often caused by high blood pressure and one of the
main causes of this is eating too much salt, but obesity and lack of exercise can also
contribute to high blood pressure.
Under-nutrition
Specific nutrient deficiencies- This can result from a general lack of nutrients or a particular
nutrient. It is not often seen in developed countries, but can be common in developing
countries. Diets low in thiamine (vitamin B1) and magnesium may also cause low
concentration span. A diet rich in fruit and vegetables, fatty acids, bread and meat will help
poor concentration and behavioural problems.
A vegetarian diet is usually high in fibre and low in fat and this makes it a healthy diet. As
long as vegetarians are aware of the need to combine vegetable-based foods to make high
biological value proteins, they can get all the nutrients they need.
