Question

Case Study 1: Meagan

Meagan is 35 years old, married with 2 children and works part time as a waitress. She does 3 gym classes per week including weights and strength training, and walks for ½ hour most days.

Although not overweight, she decided, with her gym advisor to complete a 12 week challenge to change her diet to lower her body fat percentage and become fitter and healthier.

She was given a diet by her gym advisor:

Breakfast	¼ cup oats with water, 1 scoop protein powder & tspn chia seeds, 5-6 berries Or 2 egg omelette, 1 medium fruit Or Vegetable scramble with 2 eggs, 1 medium fruit Or Protein pancakes (1 egg), ¼ cup berries, 1 tbspn yoghurt with 5-6 berries
Snack	1 medium fruit (apple or pear), 6 almonds Or 1 cup Veggie sticks & 1 tbspn hummus dip
Lunch	Tuna salad (95g Tuna) & ½ cup cooked rice or quinoa Or Turkey Burger (bread free) with 1-2 cup fibrous veggies, 100g sweet potato Or 100g lean pork, steak or chicken breast, 1-2 cup fibrous vegies or salad, 100g sweet potato or ½ cup cooked rice or quinoa Or Turkey chilli and beans
Post Workout	Protein shake
Dinner	Stuffed capsicums Or 150g lean pork, steak, white fish or chicken breast, 1-2 cups of fibrous vegies or salad, ½ cup of berries Or Pork and lettuce wraps
Fluids	3L water total daily, limit 1-2 cups tea/ coffee

Her measurements:

Prior challenge (cm):

Chest: 85         

Arms:    24

Legs:     52

Waist:   74

Hips:     97.5

Weight: 63.8

Height: 171

Energy level: 5/10

Post challenge (cm):

Chest: 81         

Arms:    24

Legs:     49

Waist:   69

Hips:     90.5

Weight: 58.3

Height: 171

Energy Level: 9/10

Meagans comments about the 12 week challenge:

My exercise regime didn't change much, it was mainly the food and water intake that was the game changer for me. I ate pretty healthy before, but ate carbs more & later in the day as well. Portion sizes were also a problem for me prior to diet- I usually ate too much and only drank max 2ltrs water daily. I saw results in week 1 & I loved every week of this diet. Delicious, healthy meals & knowing what & when to eat helped a lot too.

Calculate her BMI; prior and post challenge

Analyse the diet by completing a food group analysis and then looking at total daily kJ, macronutrient levels and the micronutrients; B9(folate) and calcium, comparing energy, macronutrients and micronutrients to their respective RDIs. (Refer to the information sheets located below the workshop heading in this Topic (8)).

Answer the following question.

3. Which nutrients, if any are outside the RDIs in this diet and are there consequences (negative or positive) if this diet was used long term? If there are negative consequences, what health problems could result?

Answer 1

Answer 1: Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated on the basis of age, height and weight.

Prior challenge BMI = 21.8 kg m-2

Post challenge BMI = 19.9 kg m-2

There is 1.9 kg m-2 reduction in the BMI after the challenge.

Answer 2: Reference Daily Intake (RDI) is the daily intake of nutrients level that is considered to be sufficient to meet the requirements a healthy individual. The major food groups having RDI values taken by Meagan. Protein are taken in diet like protein power, egg, protein pan cakes, protein shake, fish, and meat. For vitamins and mineral, fruits and vegetables are taken. Fruits include berries, apple or pear, etc. Vegetables include sweet potato, chilli, beans, capsicum, etc. There is limited consumption of tea/coffee. Since the fat and carbohydrate product taken in relatively lesser amount compared to proteins, there is rare chance of weight gain. Optimum calories containing foods are taken. The daily diet is majorly a protein diet. Consumption of water is good but still there is need to consume more.