Discuss why nutrition is a central component in health promotion. What are some of the nutritional challenges for emerging populations? What roles do nutritional deficiency and nutritional excess play in disease?

Cultural Competence And Nutrition In Health Promotion-Sample Solution

Nutrition in Health Promotion

Nutrition is a fundamental element of health and development. Better nutrition is associated with stronger immune systems that improve an individual’s development and health and reduces the risk of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease (WHO, 2022). Better nutrition is also linked to longevity and helps reduce disease risk. Appropriate nutrition is also key in reproduction, physical activity, recovery from disease and injury, and health maintenance throughout life (WHO, 2022). Food choices can enhance a person’s prospects of becoming healthy and maintaining their health, making it key in health promotion. Nutrition can have an impact on entire cultures, whether it is food in abundance or a restricted food supply. With nutrition and food at the heart of an individual’s life, it is vital to include nutrition in health promotion.(Nutrition in Health Promotion Essay Example)

The new and upcoming generation or populations face a nutritional challenge, including access to high-value and nutritious foods (Vilar-Compte et al., 2021). However, the most significant challenge is the increased availability of fast foods, low-cost foods, and beverages high in fats, sodium, sugar, and calories. Nutritional information is available but mostly inaccurate or not widely promoted to vulnerable and emerging populations. It is imperative to include nutrition as a vital part of health promotion as it influences lifestyle changes and helps prevent a broad range of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases while enhancing optimal growth and development among emerging populations.(Nutrition in Health Promotion Essay Example)

Nutritional deficits and excessive or unhealthy consumption of particular nutrients can cause various health complications such as obesity, diabetes and iron deficiency. The US is experiencing an obesity epidemic, as 41.9% of adults are classified as obese (National Library of Medicine, 2021). These rates are significant regardless of an individual’s economic status. Dietary inadequacies cause approximately 10-15% of infants and children of migratory workers, particularly rural poor people, to experience growth retardation (National Library of Medicine, 2021). Furthermore, the US population consumes a higher average daily sodium than recommended, contributing to health problems such as hypertension, stroke, and heart disease. The dangers associated with nutrition deficiency and excess make nutrition a key element of effective health promotion.(Nutrition in Health Promotion Essay Example)

References

National Library of Medicine. (2021). Health promotion: Improved nutrition. Public health reports, 132–155.

Vilar-Compte, M., Burrola-Méndez, S., Lozano-Marrufo, A., Ferré-Eguiluz, I., Flores, D., Gaitán-Rossi, P., … & Pérez-Escamilla, R. (2021). Urban poverty and nutrition challenges associated with accessibility to a healthy diet: a global systematic literature review. International Journal for Equity in Health, 20(1), 1-19.

WHO. (2022). Nutrition. https://www.who.int/health-topics/nutrition#tab=tab_1