Protein Intakes in the UK Diet - Essay Example

DISCUSSION This study recorded a significant negative correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and age. Age, as a variable also made statisticallysignificant contribution to BMI. These findings suggest that elderly people in the United Kingdom become less obese as they grow after 65 years. It is known, for example, that total body fat declines after age 70. Furthermore, the contribution of body fat to the manifestation of obese conditions in a person is a well documented phenomenon (Flatt et. al., 1988). The effect of age on BMI or obesity in the United Kingdom has been established (Department of Health, 1997). In its study which covered ages sixteen to over sixty five, the United Kingdom's Health Department reported that seven percent of people in the age group sixteen to twenty four years were obese compared to twenty nine percent and less than twenty nine percent for ages in the fifty five to sixty four years and more than sixty five years, respectively. The findings of this study, though restricted to elderly persons, are consistent with the above general observations. Decreased physical activity has been assigned as the principal causative agent of obesity in elderly persons (Coakley et al., 1998). For people in advanced age, the ability to exert oneself physically is also known to decline with age. It is therefore to be expected that persons in their eighties or more would have less capacity to undertake physical activities than would those in their sixties. The principal reason being that advanced age exacerbates age-induced degenerative processes of the body. This development in turn reduces the functional capacity of the internal organs. These results were drawn only from free living persons. Data from people living in institutional setting were excluded from this analysis. This was done when it became apparent that vast differences existed between the two sample sizes. The difference in sample size therefore biased the results systematically. Unlike elderly people living in institutions, free living persons are not under any form of compulsion to adhere to health-promoting lifestyles, except for those with identified health conditions. For such category of people to have less obese conditions with age attests to the fact they take very good care of themselves. If this observation is true, then it also tells us that sensitization and educational programmes in the United Kingdom on healthy eating and lifestyle have largely been accepted by the elderly population and are being applied. The vital role played by advances in nutrition in enhancing basic understanding of nutritional requirements of the body and composition and combinations of foods can not be discounted. The study also noted a positive and significant correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and protein. Also, protein was found as the only macronutrient to contribute significantly to BMI. The high satiating efficiency of protein compared to other macronutrients such as carbohydrates and lipids has been reported by several research workers (Gil et al., 1991., Fryer et al., 1995., Stubb et al., 1995., Dumensil, 2001).This satiating effect of proteins influences food intake (Anderson et al; 2003). By influencing the amounts of food elderly people in the United Kingdom take in, protein is able to contribute significantly to BMI. Protein is also known to influence the absorptive capacities of the body for specific nutrients such as Vitamin B complex and micronutrients. Elderly persons have special needs for these vitamins and trace nutrients because of the degenerative effects they suffer on their internal organs. Protein therefore can be used as a health management tool for elderly persons suffering from micronutrient deficiencies, notably vitamin B deficiency. This study found that the protein content of food eaten by the test population was remarkably high. Excess dietary protein beyond the amounts used for building bodily muscle or lean is converted into body fat. Compared to other micronutrients such as carbohydrates, this process is more expensive energy-wise. It should however, be pointed out that the metabolic relationship or inter-conversion of nutrients form one form to another at the cellular level is complex. Protein sources in diets worldwide tend to be comparatively more expensive. The protein-rich diets of elderly persons (65 to over 85 years) are therefore indicative of improved income levels of the populace. Comparison of data between free-living persons and those living in institutions revealed that protein levels of the two groups did not differ significantly from one another, if it is accepted that the less economically endowed people live in institutions, then it can also be safely concluded that income improvement in the country has affected all strata of the society. The total sugar levels of the survey participants and their body mass indices bore a significant negative correlation. This finding suggests that incremental intake of sugars by the test population led to less obese conditions. The adverse effects of sugars on good health are well known. Sugar is the starting point in the metabolic processes (Krebs's cycle) at the cellular level, which leads to the production of energy. Too much of sugars in the body can lead to two conditions namely, high blood sugars and excessive deposition of fat in the body. The above observation between total sugars and BMI therefore seem not to be consistent with the general body of knowledge. The high protein levels of the diets eaten by the test population have already been stressed. This probably gave rise to low energy to protein ratio. The adverse effects of total sugars were therefore ameliorated by the interactive effects it has with protein. Increases in total sugars therefore resulted in reduced Body Mass Index or obesity largely as a result of this factor. Another reason that could be assigned to this finding is the fact that the value of vitamins and trace minerals in human nutrition is now widely appreciated. Food sources such as fruits are widely consumed by elderly persons. These food sources have high sugar content but they also provide good sources of vitamins. Some of the vitamins help in arresting the degenerative effects on the internal organs elderly persons normally encounter. Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist hip ratio were found to be positively correlated significantly. The waist and hip region of the body have large concentration of adipose tissues. These tissues are notable for their capacity to deposit fat. It is to be expected that as the waist hip ratio increases, it would also reflect in the total weight gained by the entire body. This study confirmed this expectation. Waist hip ratio was found to be the largest contributor to Body Mass Index (BMI). Indeed, an alternative classification system for measuring fat and therefore obesity has been developed based solely on measuring the waist circumferences of people (Lean et al., 1995). The study revealed that gender is the second largest contributor to Body Mass Index after waist hip ratio. These two variables (gender and waist hip ratio) are generally interrelated. Females, generally have higher waist hip ratio than men. These gender differences are largely hormonal. It has been established that obesity occurs in both sexes as a result of decreased outpour of the growth hormone. Furthermore, elderly women are known to lose their reproductive capacities, largely as a result of loss of oestrogen production. The observation that social class and highest educational qualification did not contribute to Body Mass Index is quite revealing. It indirectly informs us that with elderly persons in the United Kingdom, knowledge about obesity and its consequences have moved into mainstream. There have been considerable changes in the social strata of United Kingdom in the last few decades. A greater number of people have moved up economically and therefore socially on the strength of economic prosperity that the country has witnessed in recent times. These changes to a large extent account for the observation that social class had no effect on whether an elderly Briton lived freely in his home or in an institution. The primary reason elderly persons opt for living in institutions is either economic or as a result of a breakdown in their immediate social network. Education as a good barometer of economic well being is well appreciated. It is therefore to be expected that elderly persons that put up in institutions are less endowed financially because their education qualifications are lower. If this factor has no effect statistically, it simply tells us that information on obesity and its application has become common knowledge. Indeed education qualifications alone and by themselves cannot be expected to produce elderly persons that are less obese. This is because a great deal of the measures that should be undertaken to forestall it and keep people healthy are based on self discipline. This is a virtue any elderly person can acquire or practice, irrespective of his educational qualifications or background. Depression and maximum intensity of physical activity were not found to contribute to body mass index significantly. Depressive persons suffer mental, emotional and psychological and physiological imbalances. The extent of this health condition is person-dependent. Some people use increased food intake as a combative approach to overcoming the condition, while others simply lose appetite and are therefore unable to eat. If depression had no effect on the test population, it could be that only mild forms of the disease were recorded in the test population The effect of the condition was minimal to be significant. The role physical activity plays in the health of elderly persons has already been mentioned. The level of physical activity that leads to good health is person-dependent. The maximum level of physical activity accepted to one person, can lead to total disability in another. Physical activity has its role in the combating obesity in elderly persons. However, it is unlikely that that activity alone can lead to excellent health in elderly person if it not supported by good nutrition and other lifestyle adjustments. This study has shown Body Mass Index in elderly persons in the United Kingdom in influenced significantly by some demographic variables (age and gender) and nutrition (protein and total sugars). The high protein content of diets of elderly persons is also suggestive of high income levels. Read More