POOR DIET: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES (CHILDREN AND ADULTS) - NUTRITION - 2025

The consequences of a poor diet are more serious than people usually assume, especially the development of serious diseases. To avoid these harmful effects, a good education and knowledge in the field of nutrition is necessary. Of course, you do not need to become an expert, but you do need to know the most important.

In today's world there are two main problems related to nutrition; obesity and hunger, two opposites. The incredible thing is that obesity is currently more common than malnutrition. With the development of third world countries and new technologies, there is less and less hunger. But every time there are worse eating habits and more sedentary lifestyle.

Without a doubt, a good diet is essential to stay healthy physically and mentally. Its causes are usually bad habits that have been adopted since childhood. You eat more than you should and also many foods that should not be consumed.

On the other hand, there are more and more sedentary people, so many more calories are consumed than are expended, resulting in this imbalance in the accumulation of fat.

Causes of poor diet

Before you start with the consequences, you may ask yourself, what leads a person to eat poorly? The three main causes are:

Absence of education

Nutritional education is essential to develop good eating habits, however it is not widespread in the educational plans of schools, institutes and universities.

Habits and learning

If a child lives in a family with bad eating habits, they are much more likely to learn those same habits and to develop obesity and other nutritional problems.

Means

The resources that each family or person has influence their diet.

A family may have money to buy certain kinds of food and not others. For example, in the United States the lower class consumes more fast food.

On the other hand, there are certain kinds of foods that are more expensive depending on the country. For example, fish is often more expensive.

What are the consequences of a poor diet?

Obesity or overweight, fatigue and reduced ability to work

The obesity suffered by some people is genetic, although much of it is due to a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle.

Here are some data that indicate the importance of the problem:

• Since 1980, obesity has more than doubled around the world.
• One billion adults are overweight. If no action is taken, this figure will exceed 1.5 billion in 2015
• In 2013, more than 42 million children under the age of five were overweight.
• In 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults aged 18 and over were overweight, of which more than 600 million were obese.
• In 2014, 39% of adults aged 18 and over were overweight, and 13% were obese.

High blood pressure (hypertension)

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), complications of hypertension cause 9.4 million deaths annually. Hypertension is the cause of at least 45% of deaths from heart disease, and 51% of deaths from stroke.

Hypertension can be prevented by modifying risk factors related to behavior, such as an unhealthy diet, the harmful use of alcohol or physical inactivity. Tobacco can increase the risk of complications from hypertension.

Cardiovascular diseases

According to the WHO:

• 17 million people died from cardiovascular disease in 2008.
• 23.3 million people could die from CVD in 2030.
• Tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Being physically active for at least 30 minutes every day of the week helps prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day and limiting your salt intake to less than one teaspoon a day also helps prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Depression

It has been shown that excess weight is associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms.

• Depression is a common mental disorder that affects more than 350 million people in the world.
• Depression is the world's leading cause of disability and a major contributor to the global burden of disease.
• Depression affects women more than men.
• At worst, depression can lead to suicide.
• There are effective treatments for depression.

Diabetes

• In the world there are more than 347 million people with diabetes.
• Diabetes is expected to become the seventh leading cause of death in the world by 2030.

Thirty minutes of moderate intensity physical activity almost every day and a healthy diet can dramatically reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented.

Cancer

More than 30% of cancers could be prevented, mainly by avoiding tobacco, eating healthy foods, doing some physical activity and moderating alcohol consumption.

• In 2012 8.2 million people died of cancer.

Brain malfunction

Diets rich in vitamins B, C, D and E and omega-3 acids are recommended for proper brain function, while those high in trans fats accelerate brain aging, thus worsening its proper functioning.

Especially high sugar diets are highly toxic; decrease the level of vitamin E in the blood, can cause drowsiness, irritability or inability to concentrate.

In addition to a correct diet, exercise will improve blood circulation to the brain and therefore its proper functioning.

Accelerated aging

Eating in excess and inadequate foods produces an acceleration of cellular aging.

Foods high in sugar, pastries, red meat and anything that is excessively fried can accelerate aging. Foods high in antioxidants, such as peanuts or green tea, protect cells from free radicals and prevent premature aging.

Sleeping problems

Either going to bed with an appetite or leaving having eaten too much can lead to sleep problems.

In addition to overeating, you should also avoid very spicy foods, those high in fat and those that can cause gas or indigestion.

Lower self esteem

A good physique helps positive self-esteem, just as being overweight can lower it.

On the other hand, overeating can lead to feelings of depression, guilt, or shame and interfere with blood sugar levels, disrupting positive moods.

Indigestion problems

Indigestion, the uncomfortable sensation that occurs in the upper abdomen after eating, can be caused by eating foods high in fat, carbonated drinks, alcohol or caffeine.

And do you eat properly? Do you have problems with eating well? I am interested in your opinion!