Malnourishment Research Project Overview - Essay Example

Malnourishment is defined as a medical condition resulting from inadequate and disproportionate nutritional regime. Overnutrition is considered as aform of malnourishment which is caused by extreme absorption of nutrients in comparison to the standard amount of nutrients that the body can process for optimum function of the body as a system. Overnutrition can lead to obesity which is linked to overeating which increases the body’s food intake and absorption of too much calories and nutrients.

This can cause the malfunctioning of the metabolic processes making it hard for the body to breakdown complex nutrients. Political and social factors are attributed in the growing concern about overnutritionIt is a misconception that first world countries or economically-progressive countries are capable of having luxurious ways of living and as a result this leads to the citizens having poor diets and exercise deficiency. America is considered as the fast-food nation. The reasons are very much obvious.

Statistics show that every twenty four hours, there is at least one American out of four who eats fast food. Their main reason is that fast food eating is very convenient and a cheap option. (Levinstein, 2003) The overnutrition rates in the second and third world countries are almost at the same levels as the rates of the developed countries. Economic stability has nothing to do with the prevalence of o overnutrition. The second and third world countries show the presence of malnourished citizens but they also have cases of obesity or overnutrition.

Changes in the rates of overnutrition in different countries can be due to several factors. This may be due to societal changes such as greater food consumption and genetic adaptations that impact metabolism. Therefore, lifestyle and technological changes have adverse effects with the nutrition of the people. In the book entitled Competitive Advantage by Jaynie Smith, she stated that there is an increasing need for people to eat healthy food. Since fast-foods are their usual first option for getting access to ready food, the fast foods have to think of new ways and strategies to offer healthy food options that will not prevent any potential or existing customer from buying food from them due to lack of healthy foods available.

(Fjellstrom, 2004) Fastfood chains and restaurants do not only have the responsibility to address marketing needs for they also have the obligation to address their moral responsibility to their customers by helping them live healthy lives with the introduction of healthier food choices. Fast-foods have now endorsed new healthy options for people to suit their meal plan and health needs. Some consumers are on a diet and religiously watching calories while others are in the process of lowering their cholesterol.

There is an increasing number of consumers searching for healthy food choices in fast-foods. The overnutrition rate in the developing countries is rising. It is evident that several countries are experiencing obesity epidemic. The situation cannot be resolved by simply telling people how much calorie their food has for there is more to obesity than the idea of calories. Scientific studies have found out biological explanations that can provide specific details in the prevalence of obesity among a wide range of people – both old and young.

Aside from the obesity epidemic, the complications of this are also numerous and can cost a lot of money and energy. Overnutrition can affect individuals holistically. Health complications and diseases can be experienced by individuals with obesity. Lower self-esteem and self-confidence are also manifestations of the negative effects of this disease as well as the weakening of social interaction leading to inability to interact with other people or within a social group. (Hoare, 1998)Government agencies have established programs to combat the increasing prevalence of obesity in their respective countries to ensure that the citizens live healthy and lengthy lives.

The Food and Drug Administration and Department of Health are government agencies that are greatly involved in the cause of keeping citizens aware of the possible complications that result from obesity as well as ways to prevent obesity. Fjellstrom C (2004) Mealtime and Meal Patterns from a Cultural Perspective. Scadinavian Journal of Nutrition. 48:161-164Hoare P (1998). Eating Habits, Body Esteem and Self-Esteem in Scottish Children and Adolescents. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 45:425 Levinstein, H (2003).

Paradox of Plenty: A Social History of Eating in Modern America. Berkeley: University of California. Poundstone, W (1983). Big Secrets: The Uncensored Truth About All Sorts of Stuff You Are Never Supposed to Know. New York: Quill Publishing