Encyclopedia of Diets - A Guide to Health and Nutrition

sport and recreational activities or at least to replace
daily screen time with walking the family dog or join-
ing the family or friends in physical activity.

Resources

BOOKS
Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005.Washington, D.C.:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 2005.
Toews, Judy, and Nicole Patton.Raising Healthy, Happy,
Weight-Wise Kids.Key Porter Books, 2001.

ORGANIZATIONS
American Dietetic Association. 120 South Riverside Plaza,
Suite 2000. Chicago, IL 60605. (800) 877-1600.http://
[http://www.eatright.org](http://www.eatright.org>)
National Eating Disorders Association. 603 Stewart St., No.
803, Seattle, WA 98101. (206) 382-3587.http://
[http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/](http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/>)
Project EAT, Eating Among Teens. University of Minne-
sota, 1300 S. Second St., Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN
55454 (612) 624-1818.http://www.epi.umn.edu/
research/eat/index.shtm

Teresa G. Odle

Adult nutrition
Definition
Nutrition describes the processes by which all of
the food a person eats are taken in and the nutrients
that the body needs are absorbed. Good nutrition can
help prevent disease and promote health.

Vitaminsandmineralsare an important part of
nutrition. Vitamins are organic substances present in
food. They are required by the body in small amounts
to regulate metabolism and to maintain normal
growth and functioning. Minerals are vital because
they are the building blocks that make up the muscles,
tissues, and bones. They also are important to many
life-supporting systems, such as hormones, transport
of oxygen, and enzyme systems.

There are many nutrients the body absorbs from
food and each of the food groups supplies at least one
nutrient. For example, oat bran, which is a whole
grain, can supplyfiberand a mineral calledmagne-
sium. A good nutrition plan will ensure that a balance
of food groups, and the nutrients supplied by each
group, is eaten.

Purpose

As children, nutrition is important for normal

growth and development. As adults, nutrition still

promotes health and reduces risk of disease. Studies

have shown that Americans have gained weight

largely because they eat too much and because they

choose to eat the wrong foods. Good nutrition can

help prevent weight gain by focusing on consuming

calories that are high in nutrients, not in sugars and

fat. Nutrition also plays a role in preventing and con-

trolling diseases. For example, poor nutrition can lead

to high cholesterol, which causescoronary heart dis-

ease. Lowering salt in the diet can control high blood

pressure. People with diabetes must follow special

diets to control their blood glucose levels.

Examples of people with medical conditions and

diseases show the effect that certain nutrients, or a lack

of certain nutrients, can have on the human body.

Some specific diseases linked to poor diet and physical

inactivity are cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes,

high blood pressure,osteoporosis, and certain types of

cancer. Being overweight, and especially obese, also is

linked to many health problems. Eating a poorly bal-

anced diet that is low in nutrients but high in total

calories can lead to weight gain.

Special diets or nutritional therapy may be used to

complement other treatments subscribed by a physi-

cian to treat particular diseases and conditions. Exam-

ples include:

High cholesterol. Eating a diet high in fiber and low

in saturated fats and cholesterol can help keep cho-

lesterol in check.

High blood pressure. Reducing salt and certain fats,

as well as reducing overall weight, helps lower blood

pressure. Special diets have been developed to lower

risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

Age 20  yrs.

All Adults 32.9% 34.1% 32.2%

Women 35.4% 28.6% 34.6%

Men 30.4% 39.7% 31.1%

SOURCE: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney

Diseases, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services

Obese

BMI 30

and above

Overweight

BMI 25.0–29.9

Healthy weight

BMI 18.5 to 24.9

Percentage of healthy, overweight, and obese adults in

the United States

(Illustration by GGS Information Services/Thomson Gale.)

Adult nutrition