Nutrition and Weight Status

Jose Batista, Kyle Pizzichili, Melanie Dotts

Nutrition & Weight Status

•Diet and body weight are related to health status.•Good nutrition is important to the

growth and development of children.•A healthful diet can help Americans

reduce their risk for many health conditions.

What is the goal?

• To promote health and reduce chronic disease risk through the consumption of healthful diets• To achieve and maintain healthy body

weights

Overview• The nutrition and weight status objectives for Healthy

People 2020 reflect strong science supporting the health benefits of eating a healthful diet and maintaining a healthy body weight.• The objectives also emphasize that efforts to change diet

and weight should address individual behaviors, as well as the policies and environments that support these behaviors in settings such as: -Schools

-Worksites-Health Care Organizations-Communities

Americans with a healthful diet:

• Consume a variety of nutrient-dense foods within and across the food groups, especially whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat or fat-free milk or milk products, & lean meat or other protein sources.• Limit the intake of saturated and trans fats,

cholesterol, added sugars, sodium, and alcohol.• Limit caloric intake to meet caloric needs.

Why is Nutrition & Weight Status a problem?

Having a poor diet can lead to health conditions including:• Overweight and obesity• Malnutrition• Iron-deficiency anemia • Heart disease• High blood pressure• Dyslipidemia (poor lipid profiles) • Type 2 diabetes• Osteoporosis• Oral disease• Constipation• Diverticular disease• Some cancers

What are the nation’s objectives?

• Healthier Food Access• Increase proportion of

schools that offer nutritious foods and beverages outside of school meals.

• Health Care & Worksite Settings• Increase the proportion

of primary care physicians who regularly measure the BMI of their patients

• Increase the proportion of physician office visits that include counseling or education related to nutrition or weight.

What are the nation’s objectives?

• Weight Status• Reduce the proportion

of children and adolescents who are considered obese.

• Prevent inappropriate weight gain in youth and adults (developmental).

• Food Insecurity• Eliminate very low food

security among children.• Reduce household food

insecurity and in doing so reduce hunger.

What are the nation’s objectives?

• Food and Nutrient Consumption• Increase the variety and

contribution of vegetables to the diets of the population aged 2 years and older.

• Reduce consumption of calories from solid fats and added sugars in the population aged 2 years and older.

• Iron Deficiency• Reduce iron deficiency

among young children and females of childbearing age.

How is our nation doing in regards to meeting the objectives?

• Obesity: Adults (1998-94 to 2009-10)• From 1999-2000 to 2009-10, the proportion of adults aged 20

and over who were obese increased: -7.2% for females-29.1% for males

How is our nation doing in regards to meeting the objectives?

• Obesity: Children (1988-94 to 2009-10)• From 1999-2000 to 2009-10, the proportion of children and

adolescents aged 2-19 years who were considered obese increased: -8.7% for females -32.9% for males

How is our nation doing in regards to meeting the objectives?

• Food Insecurity: Households (1995-2011)• The proportion of U.S households that reported experiencing

food insecurity during a 12-month period increased 25.2%.

How is our nation doing in regards to meeting the objectives?

• Sodium Consumption (2007-10)• In 2007-10, persons aged 2 years and over had a mean total daily

sodium intake of 3,588 mg.• Sodium intake varied by sex, race, ethnicity, and education.

• Males: 4,128 mg / Females: 3,083 mg• Hispanic or Latinos: 3,334 mg / Non-Hispanic White: 3,661 mg• Without high school diploma: 3,505 mg / With: 3,799 mg

How can our nation further address this problem?

• Reduce stressors• Restaurants or fast food

chains offering healthier options• Lowering the cost of

healthier foods in the food store• Time management

workshops• Teaching more nutrition at a

younger age

References• Healthy People 2020 http://

www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=29-

• Nutrition.gov http://www.nutrition.gov/nutrition-and-health-issues/overweight-and-obesity