Question

subject is nutrition
What are some of the major community nutrition advances that had been made and how they contribute to our health (give 4)

Answer 1

process of helping individuals and groups develop healthy eating habits in order to promote wellness and prevent disease.

Purpose

Americans increasingly eat a diet that is high in saturated fat and refined sugars and lacking in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Poor dietary habits are linked to health conditions such as obesity , diabetes, heart disease , strokes, and some forms of cancer . With more than half of Americans classified as overweight or obese, organizations including the American Dietetic Association strive to increase awareness about the importance of a healthy diet and exercise .

The goal of community nutrition is to educate individuals and groups so that they adopt healthy eating habits. Dieticians and nutritionists work with many other health care professionals in promoting improved community nutrition. Their efforts emphasize a preventive approach in educating individuals in how a change in dietary habits will reduce the risk of illness. Community nutrition focuses on all age groups. The groups targeted range from babies to pregnant women to older adults. For example, a young pregnant woman may not realize how poor eating habits affect her developing fetus or she may be unaware of the importance of breastfeeding. Older adults may lose interest in eating due to loneliness, inability to prepare meals, or a physical condition such as difficulty chewing. Individuals with diabetes may not understand the need to control their blood glucose levels through diet as well as medication.

Obesity is an issue for many age groups. Causes include lack of physical education programs in schools and an overly busy lifestyle for adults. The availability of fast food and “supersized” items are regarded positively because of their cost and convenience. Their accessibility and convenience often prompts people to make unhealthy food choices. In a school cafeteria, for example, a child may bypass a salad in favor of fries and a soda. A moviegoer may choose to buy a tub of buttered popcorn because the purchase price includes a free refill.

Community nutrition programs attempt to change attitudes so that a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains is more appealing than diet high in fats and sugars. While sweet, high fat foods may be an occasional treat, community nutrition emphasizes a lifetime of routine healthy eating.

Precautions

Since the objective of community nutrition is for people to adopt healthy eating habits, there are usually no reasons that a person would be prevented from participating in a community nutrition program. Some individuals such as those with diabetes who participate in community nutrition programs may have special dietary needs.

Description

Community nutrition programs are administered by organizations such as public health agencies, public schools, residential facilities for the elderly, hospitals, social service organizations, and health-care systems. Programs range from lunch programs for school children and senior citizens to health fairs and “5-A-Day” public awareness promotions that urge the public to eat least five fruits and vegetables every day.