The body manages its energy supply with amazing precision. Consider that many people maintain their weight within about a 10- to 20-pound range throughout their lives. How do they do this? How does the body manage excess energy? How do bones, muscle, fat, fluid, and other tissue influence our body composition? However, overweight, and underweight both result in energy imbalance. Almost 42% of adults aged 20 and above are overweight placing them at risk of developing chronic diseases that affect quality of life.
After studying Module 3: Lecture Materials & Resources, answer the following:
Conduct a nutrition/survey interview with 2 athletes and ask them a) what protein or amino acid supplements they use in their diet? and b) why do they use those supplements? Then, navigate to: www.quackwatch.orgLinks to an external site. and enter the name of the supplement. Provide 1 paragraph with your analysis of the products and what you found out about the products’ nutritional characteristics (see Chapter 5, page 132 of your textbook).
Search the internet for a popular weight-loss program (i.e., Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, etc.), and submit 1 paragraph with the following:
describe the diet plan
evaluate whether the plan offers a nutritionally reliable way to lose weight or is it a Fad Diet (see Chapter 7, Table NP7-1, page 193 of your textbook)
In 1 paragraph, describe type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes by providing:
characteristics
definition
Full Answer Section
Weight Loss Programs:
A popular weight-loss program is Jenny Craig. This program delivers pre-portioned meals to your door, focusing on calorie control and portion sizes.
Evaluation:
Jenny Craig offers a structured approach to weight loss, which can be helpful for some people. However, it can be expensive and may not be sustainable in the long term. Looking at Table NP7-1 (page 193) of your textbook, it avoids some fad diet characteristics like eliminating entire food groups or promoting unrealistic weight loss speeds. However, it lacks the flexibility of learning healthy eating habits that can be maintained after the program ends.
Types of Diabetes:
- Type 1 Diabetes (T1D):
- Definition: An autoimmune disease where the body attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
- Characteristics: Requires lifelong insulin injections to manage blood sugar levels. Often diagnosed in childhood or young adulthood.
- Causes & Symptoms: Genetic predisposition, environmental factors. Symptoms include excessive thirst, urination, hunger, unexplained weight loss, fatigue.
- Type 2 Diabetes (T2D):
- Definition: The body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't produce enough insulin.
- Characteristics: Can be managed with lifestyle changes (diet, exercise) and/or medications. Often diagnosed in adulthood.
- Causes & Symptoms: Risk factors include obesity, family history, inactivity. Symptoms can be similar to T1D but may be milder or absent initially.
- Gestational Diabetes:
- Definition: Develops during pregnancy due to hormonal changes that affect insulin sensitivity.
- Characteristics: Usually goes away after pregnancy but increases risk of developing T2D later in life.
- Causes & Symptoms: Similar to T2D but specific to pregnancy. Often diagnosed through routine prenatal screening. Symptoms may be absent.
Sample Answer
Athlete Interviews, Weight Loss Programs, and Diabetes
Athlete Interviews:
Unfortunately, I cannot conduct real-time interviews. However, I can provide a sample interview structure you can use to interview athletes:
- What protein or amino acid supplements do you use in your diet?
- Why do you use those supplements?
Once you have the answers, you can visit Quackwatch and enter the supplement names to find out about their nutritional characteristics. Analyze the information you find, considering factors like:
- Does the scientific evidence support the advertised benefits?
- Are there any potential side effects?
- Is it a good source of protein or amino acids compared to whole food sources?