Diet can be the one thing standing between a person and a healthy weight for them. Whether a person be underweight, overweight or obese, it is just as dangerous.
Underweight- defines an
individual with a body weight below a healthy weight and a body mass index (BMI)
below 18.5. Being underweight has many health risks. People with too little body
fat have a lower energy reserve and a lower nutrient status. Many people with
too little body fat die of starvation first in a famine or if they have to fight
disease. The outcome for heart disease is also worse in underweight
people.
Overweight- Is a body weight
above a healthy weight and with a BMI of 25-29.9%.
Obesity is defined as having
a BMI of 30% or higher. Having too much body fat also has health risks. Obesity
related diseases include; diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, gallbladder
stones, liver disease, cancers and stroke. Having excess body fat causes a
strain on the body and the organs.
According to chapter 9 in our
text, premature death risks rates are very high in people with a BMI of 15% then
decline as it goes from 20-25% and then steadily rises as the BMI goes up.
Basically, a person with a balanced diet can help prevent being at an unhealthy weight. Consistently following the dietary guidelines can help keep us at a healthy weight. If a person is underweight, they need to up their calorie intake, but still make sure that the calories are from a good source and not just empty calories from sugar because thin does not necessarily equal healthy. A person who is overweight or obese should not severely restrict their calories because their body can go into starvation mode which will make them hold onto the stored fat. Making sure the calories consumed come from a healthy place will help a person lose weight.
References:
Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2013). Nutrition: Concepts and
Controversies (13th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.
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