Unit 10, Assignment 2 Resub
There are many factors that can affect someone’s nutritional health and these need to be carefully
considered when health and social care workers are providing individuals with meals.
Health factors
Diabetes is defined as a condition in which the blood glucose is affected. “Type 1 diabetes is where
the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin.” (NHS, 2021), and it
can lead to heart and blood vessel damage, nerve damage and kidney damage. “Type 2 diabetes is
where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not react to insulin” (NHS,
2021), and it can lead to unintended weight loss, increased hunger, blurred vision and frequent
infections. “There is a relatively high incidence of coronary heart disease in diabetics in the United
Kingdom.” (Higgins, Lavers, Garnham and Haworth, 2013) Poor nutritional health can influence this
health factor because food and drink choices such as eating foods high in sugar can lead to poorly
controlled diabetes, which may lead to blindness, kidney failure, strokes and gangrene, which could
mean that the lower limbs need to be amputated. Nutritional health can positively influence this
health factor because foods such as those that are less dense with carbohydrates will help to lower
the risk because type 2 diabetes causes the level of glucose in the blood to become too high.
The loss of ability to feed independently can be from either paralysis or loss of cognitive function, such as a
condition like dementia. Someone with Parkinson’s disease would need an increase in energy, as a tremor uses
extra energy and people with Parkinson’s disease are more likely to lose weight rapidly. However, trying to
maintain a healthy weight can prove difficult if someone develops dysphagia, which affects someone’s ability
to swallow. As the condition develops it becomes increasingly difficult to swallow, as this point adaptations to
their diet need to be made to ensure that they are still getting the nutrients they require. If these adaptations
are not made, then the individual could get malnutrition. An individual who has lost cognitive function may
forget how to eat; this can occur as a result of dementia.
Heart disease occurs when there are problems with the heart, blood vessels, heart rhythm or heart defects.
Nutritional health can positively influence this disease because a diet that has less salt, sugar and fat, in
particular saturated fat and sugar will reduce the risk of heart disease because it will control the blood
cholesterol and sugar levels. Furthermore, the risk of heart disease can be reduced by eating foods such as
berries, as they are rich in antioxidants. “Avocados are an excellent source of heart-healthy monounsaturated
fats, which have been linked to reduced levels of cholesterol and a lower risk of heart disease.” (15 Incredibly
Heart-Healthy Foods, 2021) Therefore, these can have a positive influence on nutritional health.
However, poor nutritional health is strongly linked with heart disease because a diet high in
saturated fat can increase the likelihood of heart disease, as it increases a build-up of atheroma.
Hypertension is defined as high blood pressure and can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, strokes,
heart failure, aortic aneurysms, kidney disease or vascular dementia. Poor nutritional health can
influence this condition because a diet high in salt, can lead to someone developing hypertension.
Large amounts of alcohol and caffeine can also increase blood pressure, so this needs to be limited.
However, nutritional health can have a good influence on this health factor because foods such as
skinless turkey and chicken, plain rice, pasta and potatoes can lower blood pressure.
Coeliac disease is defined as an intolerance to gluten and can lead to anaemia and osteoporosis, as it
can affect the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Poor nutritional health can influence this condition
because a person with coeliac disease can experience malabsorption, which is where the body does
not absorb all the nutrients, which in severe cases can lead to a vitamin or mineral deficiency.
Osteoporosis can also develop from malabsorption, causing the bones to become weak and brittle.
However, nutritional health can have a good influence on this health factor because foods such as
, those without gluten or gluten free alternatives, such as gluten free bread will help to lower the risk
because a person’s symptoms will not flare up.
Irritable bowel syndrome is defined as a digestive malfunction, when the muscles of the gut but in
particular the colon alter their normal rhythms and can lead to people losing too much weight as
their body is not absorbing the nutrients they need. Poor nutritional health can influence this
condition because this condition is linked to consuming fatty, spicy or processed foods. However,
nutritional health can have a good influence on this health factor because foods such as whole
wheat bread, oats, barely, brown rice and whole-grain pasta will help to lower the risk because they
ease symptoms such as diarrhoea, and foods containing fibre are better to decrease the risk of
constipation.
Lactose intolerance is defined as a digestive disorder where the digestive system has difficulty to
digest lactose, which is found in milk and dairy products and can lead to flatulence, diarrhoea,
bloating, stomach cramps and pains. Poor nutritional health can influence this condition because it
can lead to complications, such as the body experiencing difficulty to absorb magnesium and zinc as
lactose is needed to absorb these minerals. However, nutritional health can have a good influence
on this health factor because foods such as those that lack lactose will help to lower the risk because
an individual who is lactose intolerant is less likely to have flare ups if they avoid foods that contain
lactose.
“A food allergy is defined as when the body’s immune system reacts unusually to specific foods.”
(Food allergy, 2019) It can lead to an itching sensation within the mouth, throat and ears. Also
common is a raised itchy red rash on the skin or swelling of the face, in particular, around the eyes,
lips, tongue and roof of the mouth. Poor nutritional health can influence this condition because
someone may lack nutrients that they need if they are attempting to control their food allergy but
aren’t doing so successfully. However, nutritional health can have a good influence on this health
factor because if someone has an awareness of what they are allergic to they can supplement foods
they are allergic to with foods that they are not allergic to, and this will help to lower the risk
because people will have less chance of experiencing anaphylactic shock.
Lifestyle factors
Eating at home will influence nutritional health because someone can choose to make homemade food, which
uses fresh ingredients instead of added salt and sugar that is found in ready meals. In particular eating at
home, for university students, tends to be either takeaways or ready meals, as it is quicker and most university
students, in particular first years, will most likely have had less experience cooking for themselves.
Social eating and drinking will influence nutritional health because often when people eat out with others, they
tend to eat the same as what their friends eat. Often if someone’s friends decide that they are going to eat out
at a pizza restaurant then an individual will be more likely to also go and eat at the pizza restaurant with them.
Also, social drinking in adults may involve alcohol, which can impact an individual’s nutritional health as it can
cause weight gain and negative effects due to excess weight, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Exercise, activity levels and leisure pursuits will influence nutritional health because the amount of energy that
a person needs to consume through their diet could depend on the level of exercise they do. If someone is less
active then they usually require less energy intake through their diet. Carbohydrates are the main source of
energy, so they should be consumed if someone has high activity levels.
A person’s occupation is likely to affect their nutritional choices, as a sports teacher, is most likely to have a
better diet than a builder as a sports teacher is more aware of their dietary needs, than what a builder may be.
