{"id":29,"date":"2019-03-11T16:07:39","date_gmt":"2019-03-11T16:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/sunyltnutrition\/chapter\/1-1-defining-nutrition-health-and-disease-medicine-libretexts\/"},"modified":"2020-01-19T23:02:28","modified_gmt":"2020-01-19T23:02:28","slug":"1-1-defining-nutrition-health-and-disease-medicine-libretexts","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-mcc-ltnutrition\/chapter\/1-1-defining-nutrition-health-and-disease-medicine-libretexts\/","title":{"raw":"1.1: Defining Nutrition, Health, and Disease - Medicine LibreTexts","rendered":"1.1: Defining Nutrition, Health, and Disease &#8211; Medicine LibreTexts"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox key-takeaways\">In this Chapter, we provide an overview of nutrition as an evidence-based science and explore the concepts of health, wellness, and disease. We also provide an introduction to the different types of nutrients, health factors, personal health assessment, and the concept of sustainable food systems.<\/div>\r\n<article id=\"elm-main-content\" class=\"elm-content-container\"><section class=\"mt-content-container\">\r\n<div id=\"s440\" class=\"mt-include\">\r\n<div class=\"skills\">\r\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objective<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Explain the terms nutrition, health, health promotion, and disease prevention.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nYou and I are bombarded with images and messages about food everywhere we go. We see super models eating giant burgers, chefs battling to prepare meals, and the top places to burst your belly from consuming atomic chicken wings and deli sandwiches longer than a foot. There are also shows that feature bizarre foods from cultures around the world. How do you use the information from popular network food shows to build a nutritious meal? You don\u2019t\u2014these shows are for entertainment. The construction of a nutritious meal requires learning about which foods are healthy and which foods are not-so-health, how foods and nutrients function in your body, and how to use scientific resources to make healthful choices for you and those you care about. This text is designed to provide you with the information necessary to make sound nutritional choices that will optimize health and help prevent disease.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"584\"]<img class=\"internal\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4101\/2019\/03\/11160724\/8dc1806ffa0e08e7ab2c419ef1dab40e.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"584\" height=\"389\" \/> \u00a9 Shutterstock[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<div id=\"section_1\" class=\"mt-section\">\r\n<h2 id=\"How_do_you_fill_your_plate.3F-440\">How do you fill your plate?<\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"zimmerman_1.0-ch01_s01_s01_p03\">The word nutrition first appeared in 1551 and comes from the Latin word <em class=\"emphasis\">nutrire<\/em>, meaning \u201cto nourish.\u201d Today, we define Nutritional science is the investigation of how an organism is nourished, and incorporates the study of how nourishment affects personal health, population health, and planetary health. Nutritional science covers a wide spectrum of disciplines. As a result, nutritional scientists can specialize in particular aspects of nutrition such as biology, physiology, immunology, biochemistry, education, psychology, sustainability, and sociology.<\/p>\r\nWithout adequate nutrition the human body does not function optimally, and severe nutritional inadequacy can lead to disease and even death. The typical American diet is lacking in many ways, from not containing the proper amounts of essential nutrients, to being too speedily consumed, to being only meagerly satisfying. Dietitians are nutrition professionals who integrate their knowledge of nutritional science into helping people achieve a healthy diet and develop good dietary habits. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) is the largest organization of nutrition professionals worldwide and dietitians registered with the AND are committed to helping Americans eat well and live healthier lives. To learn more from the AND\u2019s nutritional advice, visit <a class=\"external\" title=\"http:\/\/www.eatright.org\/\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eatright.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external nofollow noopener\">EatRight.Org<\/a>\r\n\r\nYour ability to wake up, to think clearly, to communicate, to hope, to dream, to go to school, to gain knowledge, to go to work, to earn a living, and to do all of the things that you like to do are dependent upon one factor\u2014your health. Good health means you are able to function normally and work hard to achieve your goals in life. For the next few minutes, take some time to view snapshots of the insides of the refrigerators of American mechanics, doctors, school teachers, hunters, short-order cooks, college students, vegans, and more. Visit Mark Menjivar\u2019s portrait exhibition, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmenjivar.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">You Are What You Eat<\/a>\u201d.\u00a0Menjivar hopes these images will invoke new thoughts about, \u201cHow we care for our bodies. How we care for others. And how we care for the land.\u201d As you look at these images think about your personal health, the health of your family and friends, and the health of this planet. These hopes encompass the inspirations for this book.\r\n<div><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"note1\">\r\n<div class=\"textbox\">\r\n<p class=\"boxtitle\">Interactive 1.1<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"para\">Mark Menjivar has traveled around the United States taking photographs of the contents of refrigerators of numerous types of people. The portraits are available for viewing on his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmenjivar.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website.<\/a>\u00a0Click on \"Projects\" then \"Refrigerators\" on the left.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"section_2\" class=\"mt-section\">\r\n<h2 id=\"Nutrition_and_Health_and_Disease-440\">Nutrition and Health and Disease<\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"zimmerman_1.0-ch01_s01_s02_p01\">In 1946, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as \u201ca state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.\u201d\u00a0This definition was adopted into the WHO constitution in 1948 and has not been amended since. A triangle is often used to depict the equal influences of physical, mental, and social well-being on health (Figure 1.1). Disease is defined as any abnormal condition affecting the health of an organism, and is characterized by specific signs and symptoms. Signs refer to identifying characteristics of a disease such as swelling, weight loss, or fever. Symptoms are the features of a disease recognized by a patient and\/or their doctor. Symptoms can include nausea, fatigue, irritability, and pain. Diseases are broadly categorized as resulting from pathogens (i.e., bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites), deficiencies, genetics, and physiological dysfunction. Diseases that primarily affect physical health are those that impair body structure (as is the case with osteoporosis), or functioning (as is the case with cardiovascular disease). Mental illnesses primarily affect mental and social well-being.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_990\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-990\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4337\/2019\/03\/24135939\/TheHealthTriangle_Threesidesofhealthcombinetoformthehealthtriangle-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/> Physical Health. Taking care of your body. Cleanliness. Nutrition. Fitness. Social Health. Getting along with others. Making friends. Giving support. Mental and Emotional Health. Liking who you are. Expressing emotions. Managing stress.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"541\"]<img class=\"internal\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4101\/2019\/03\/11160729\/d3c0c8d0f0922bd30070a2d8ad8869c9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"541\" height=\"358\" \/> Figure 1.1.1: The Health Triangle. \u00a9 Thinkstock[\/caption]\r\n<p class=\"zimmerman_1.0-ch01_s01_s02_p02\">The foods we eat affect all three aspects of our health. For example, a teen with Type 2 diabetes (a disease often brought on by poor diet) is first diagnosed by physical signs and symptoms such as increased urination, thirstiness, and unexplained weight loss. But research has also found that teens with Type 2 diabetes have impaired thinking and do not interact well with others in school, thereby affecting mental and social well-being.\u00a0Type 2 diabetes is just one example of a physiological disease that affects all aspects of health\u2014physical, mental, and social.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"section_3\" class=\"mt-section\">\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2 id=\"Public_Health_and_Disease_Prevention-440\">Public Health and Disease Prevention<\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"zimmerman_1.0-ch01_s01_s02_s01_p01\">In 1894, the first congressional funds were appropriated to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the study of the relationship between nutrition and human health. Dr. Wilbur Olin Atwater was appointed as the Chief of Nutrition Investigations and is regarded as the \u201cFather of Nutrition Science\u201d in America.\u00a0 Under his guidance, the USDA released the first bulletin to the American public that contained information on the amounts of fat, carbohydrates, proteins, and food energy in various foods. Nutritional science advanced considerably in these early years, but it took until 1980 for the USDA and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to jointly release the first edition of <em class=\"emphasis\">Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"zimmerman_1.0-ch01_s01_s02_s01_p02\">Although wide distribution of\u00a0the \"Dietary Guidelines for Americans\"\u00a0did not come about until the 1980s, many historical events that demonstrated the importance of diet to health preceded their release. Assessments of the American diet in the 1930s led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to declare in his inaugural address on January 20, 1937, \u201cI see one-third of our nation is ill-housed, ill-clad, and ill-nourished.\u201d From the time of Atwater until the onset of the Great Depression, nutrition\u00a0scientists had discovered many of the vitamins and minerals that are essential for the functioning of the human body. Their work and the acknowledgement by President FDR of the nutritional inadequacy of the American diet evoked a united response between scientists and government, leading to: the enrichment of flour (adding vitamins and minerals), the development of free or reduced-cost school lunch programs, and advancements of nutrition\u00a0education in this country.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"414\"]<img class=\"internal\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4101\/2019\/03\/11160737\/3a17419a4159e84a97b0c65a2831d52d.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"414\" height=\"376\" \/> <strong>Figure 1.2<\/strong>: <em>The Federal Government\u2019s New and Improved Tool of Nutritional Communication<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n<p class=\"zimmerman_1.0-ch01_s01_s02_s01_p03\">In the latter part of the twentieth century nutrition\u00a0scientists, public health organizations, and the American public increasingly recognized that eating too much of certain foods is linked to chronic diseases. We now know that diet-related conditions and diseases include: hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and osteoporosis. These diet-related conditions and diseases are some of the biggest killers of Americans. The United States Department of Health and Human Services\u00a0(HHS) reports that unhealthy diets and inactivity cause between 310,000 and 580,000 deaths every single year. \u00a0According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), eating healthier could save Americans over $70 billion per year and this does not include the cost of obesity, which is estimated to cost a further $117 billion per year. \u00a0Unfortunately, despite the fact that the prevalence of these diseases can be decreased by healthier diets and increased physical activity, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the federal government spends one thousand times more to treat disease than to prevent it ($1,390 versus $1.21 per person each year). \u00a0In 2015, the newest edition of the <a class=\"link-https\" title=\"https:\/\/health.gov\/dietaryguidelines\/2015\/guidelines\/\" href=\"https:\/\/health.gov\/dietaryguidelines\/2015\/guidelines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external nofollow noopener\">Dietary Guidelines for Americans<\/a> identified obesity as the number one nutritional-related health problem in the United States and established strategies to combat its incidence and health consequences in the American population. A 2008 study in the journal Obesity reported that if current trends are not changed, 100 percent of Americans will be overweight or obese in 2048! \u00a0Wang Y, et al. \u201cWill All Americans Become Overweight or Obese? Estimating the Progression and Cost of the US Obesity Epidemic.\u201d Obesity 10, no. 16 (October 2008): 2323\u201330.\u00a0\u00a0In 2011, the US federal government released a multimedia tool that aims to help Americans choose healthier foods from the five food groups (grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and proteins). The tool, called \u201cChoose MyPlate,\u201d is available at <a class=\"mt-disabled\" title=\"TextMaps\/Map:_An_Introduction_to_Nutrition_(Zimmerman)\/01:_Nutrition_and_You\/1.2:_Defining_Nutrition,_Health,_and_Diseasechoosemyplate.gov\" href=\"https:\/\/www.choosemyplate.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"broken noopener\">choosemyplate.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"section_4\" class=\"mt-section\">\r\n<div class=\"textbox key-takeaways\">\r\n<h3 id=\"Key_Takeaways-440\">Key Takeaways<\/h3>\r\n<ul class=\"itemizedlist\">\r\n \t<li>Health is defined as \u201ca state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.\u201d\u00a0<span class=\"footnote\">World Health Organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Disease is defined as any abnormal condition that affects the health of an organism, and is characterized by specific signs and symptoms.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Disease affects all three aspects of the health triangle.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Good nutrition provides a mechanism to promote health and prevent disease.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Diet-related conditions and diseases include: obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and osteoporosis.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>It took until the 1980s for the US federal government to develop a diet-related public policy designed to equip Americans with the tools to change to a healthier diet.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"zimmerman_1.0-ch12_s04_s05_n03\" class=\"exercises \">\r\n<h3 id=\"section_17\" class=\"mt-section\">Discussion Starters<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>How might the way we nourish our bodies affect planetary health?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Debate your classmates: Should the federal government be concerned with what Americans eat?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><\/article>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox key-takeaways\">In this Chapter, we provide an overview of nutrition as an evidence-based science and explore the concepts of health, wellness, and disease. We also provide an introduction to the different types of nutrients, health factors, personal health assessment, and the concept of sustainable food systems.<\/div>\n<article id=\"elm-main-content\" class=\"elm-content-container\">\n<section class=\"mt-content-container\">\n<div id=\"s440\" class=\"mt-include\">\n<div class=\"skills\">\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Objective<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Explain the terms nutrition, health, health promotion, and disease prevention.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>You and I are bombarded with images and messages about food everywhere we go. We see super models eating giant burgers, chefs battling to prepare meals, and the top places to burst your belly from consuming atomic chicken wings and deli sandwiches longer than a foot. There are also shows that feature bizarre foods from cultures around the world. How do you use the information from popular network food shows to build a nutritious meal? You don\u2019t\u2014these shows are for entertainment. The construction of a nutritious meal requires learning about which foods are healthy and which foods are not-so-health, how foods and nutrients function in your body, and how to use scientific resources to make healthful choices for you and those you care about. This text is designed to provide you with the information necessary to make sound nutritional choices that will optimize health and help prevent disease.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 594px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"internal\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4101\/2019\/03\/11160724\/8dc1806ffa0e08e7ab2c419ef1dab40e.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"584\" height=\"389\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a9 Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"section_1\" class=\"mt-section\">\n<h2 id=\"How_do_you_fill_your_plate.3F-440\">How do you fill your plate?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"zimmerman_1.0-ch01_s01_s01_p03\">The word nutrition first appeared in 1551 and comes from the Latin word <em class=\"emphasis\">nutrire<\/em>, meaning \u201cto nourish.\u201d Today, we define Nutritional science is the investigation of how an organism is nourished, and incorporates the study of how nourishment affects personal health, population health, and planetary health. Nutritional science covers a wide spectrum of disciplines. As a result, nutritional scientists can specialize in particular aspects of nutrition such as biology, physiology, immunology, biochemistry, education, psychology, sustainability, and sociology.<\/p>\n<p>Without adequate nutrition the human body does not function optimally, and severe nutritional inadequacy can lead to disease and even death. The typical American diet is lacking in many ways, from not containing the proper amounts of essential nutrients, to being too speedily consumed, to being only meagerly satisfying. Dietitians are nutrition professionals who integrate their knowledge of nutritional science into helping people achieve a healthy diet and develop good dietary habits. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) is the largest organization of nutrition professionals worldwide and dietitians registered with the AND are committed to helping Americans eat well and live healthier lives. To learn more from the AND\u2019s nutritional advice, visit <a class=\"external\" title=\"http:\/\/www.eatright.org\/\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eatright.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external nofollow noopener\">EatRight.Org<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Your ability to wake up, to think clearly, to communicate, to hope, to dream, to go to school, to gain knowledge, to go to work, to earn a living, and to do all of the things that you like to do are dependent upon one factor\u2014your health. Good health means you are able to function normally and work hard to achieve your goals in life. For the next few minutes, take some time to view snapshots of the insides of the refrigerators of American mechanics, doctors, school teachers, hunters, short-order cooks, college students, vegans, and more. Visit Mark Menjivar\u2019s portrait exhibition, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmenjivar.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">You Are What You Eat<\/a>\u201d.\u00a0Menjivar hopes these images will invoke new thoughts about, \u201cHow we care for our bodies. How we care for others. And how we care for the land.\u201d As you look at these images think about your personal health, the health of your family and friends, and the health of this planet. These hopes encompass the inspirations for this book.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"note1\">\n<div class=\"textbox\">\n<p class=\"boxtitle\">Interactive 1.1<\/p>\n<p class=\"para\">Mark Menjivar has traveled around the United States taking photographs of the contents of refrigerators of numerous types of people. The portraits are available for viewing on his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmenjivar.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website.<\/a>\u00a0Click on &#8220;Projects&#8221; then &#8220;Refrigerators&#8221; on the left.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"section_2\" class=\"mt-section\">\n<h2 id=\"Nutrition_and_Health_and_Disease-440\">Nutrition and Health and Disease<\/h2>\n<p class=\"zimmerman_1.0-ch01_s01_s02_p01\">In 1946, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as \u201ca state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.\u201d\u00a0This definition was adopted into the WHO constitution in 1948 and has not been amended since. A triangle is often used to depict the equal influences of physical, mental, and social well-being on health (Figure 1.1). Disease is defined as any abnormal condition affecting the health of an organism, and is characterized by specific signs and symptoms. Signs refer to identifying characteristics of a disease such as swelling, weight loss, or fever. Symptoms are the features of a disease recognized by a patient and\/or their doctor. Symptoms can include nausea, fatigue, irritability, and pain. Diseases are broadly categorized as resulting from pathogens (i.e., bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites), deficiencies, genetics, and physiological dysfunction. Diseases that primarily affect physical health are those that impair body structure (as is the case with osteoporosis), or functioning (as is the case with cardiovascular disease). Mental illnesses primarily affect mental and social well-being.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_990\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-990\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-990\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4337\/2019\/03\/24135939\/TheHealthTriangle_Threesidesofhealthcombinetoformthehealthtriangle-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-990\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Physical Health. Taking care of your body. Cleanliness. Nutrition. Fitness. Social Health. Getting along with others. Making friends. Giving support. Mental and Emotional Health. Liking who you are. Expressing emotions. Managing stress.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 551px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"internal\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4101\/2019\/03\/11160729\/d3c0c8d0f0922bd30070a2d8ad8869c9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"541\" height=\"358\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 1.1.1: The Health Triangle. \u00a9 Thinkstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"zimmerman_1.0-ch01_s01_s02_p02\">The foods we eat affect all three aspects of our health. For example, a teen with Type 2 diabetes (a disease often brought on by poor diet) is first diagnosed by physical signs and symptoms such as increased urination, thirstiness, and unexplained weight loss. But research has also found that teens with Type 2 diabetes have impaired thinking and do not interact well with others in school, thereby affecting mental and social well-being.\u00a0Type 2 diabetes is just one example of a physiological disease that affects all aspects of health\u2014physical, mental, and social.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"section_3\" class=\"mt-section\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Public_Health_and_Disease_Prevention-440\">Public Health and Disease Prevention<\/h2>\n<p class=\"zimmerman_1.0-ch01_s01_s02_s01_p01\">In 1894, the first congressional funds were appropriated to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the study of the relationship between nutrition and human health. Dr. Wilbur Olin Atwater was appointed as the Chief of Nutrition Investigations and is regarded as the \u201cFather of Nutrition Science\u201d in America.\u00a0 Under his guidance, the USDA released the first bulletin to the American public that contained information on the amounts of fat, carbohydrates, proteins, and food energy in various foods. Nutritional science advanced considerably in these early years, but it took until 1980 for the USDA and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to jointly release the first edition of <em class=\"emphasis\">Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"zimmerman_1.0-ch01_s01_s02_s01_p02\">Although wide distribution of\u00a0the &#8220;Dietary Guidelines for Americans&#8221;\u00a0did not come about until the 1980s, many historical events that demonstrated the importance of diet to health preceded their release. Assessments of the American diet in the 1930s led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to declare in his inaugural address on January 20, 1937, \u201cI see one-third of our nation is ill-housed, ill-clad, and ill-nourished.\u201d From the time of Atwater until the onset of the Great Depression, nutrition\u00a0scientists had discovered many of the vitamins and minerals that are essential for the functioning of the human body. Their work and the acknowledgement by President FDR of the nutritional inadequacy of the American diet evoked a united response between scientists and government, leading to: the enrichment of flour (adding vitamins and minerals), the development of free or reduced-cost school lunch programs, and advancements of nutrition\u00a0education in this country.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 424px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"internal\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4101\/2019\/03\/11160737\/3a17419a4159e84a97b0c65a2831d52d.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"414\" height=\"376\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Figure 1.2<\/strong>: <em>The Federal Government\u2019s New and Improved Tool of Nutritional Communication<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"zimmerman_1.0-ch01_s01_s02_s01_p03\">In the latter part of the twentieth century nutrition\u00a0scientists, public health organizations, and the American public increasingly recognized that eating too much of certain foods is linked to chronic diseases. We now know that diet-related conditions and diseases include: hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and osteoporosis. These diet-related conditions and diseases are some of the biggest killers of Americans. The United States Department of Health and Human Services\u00a0(HHS) reports that unhealthy diets and inactivity cause between 310,000 and 580,000 deaths every single year. \u00a0According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), eating healthier could save Americans over $70 billion per year and this does not include the cost of obesity, which is estimated to cost a further $117 billion per year. \u00a0Unfortunately, despite the fact that the prevalence of these diseases can be decreased by healthier diets and increased physical activity, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the federal government spends one thousand times more to treat disease than to prevent it ($1,390 versus $1.21 per person each year). \u00a0In 2015, the newest edition of the <a class=\"link-https\" title=\"https:\/\/health.gov\/dietaryguidelines\/2015\/guidelines\/\" href=\"https:\/\/health.gov\/dietaryguidelines\/2015\/guidelines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external nofollow noopener\">Dietary Guidelines for Americans<\/a> identified obesity as the number one nutritional-related health problem in the United States and established strategies to combat its incidence and health consequences in the American population. A 2008 study in the journal Obesity reported that if current trends are not changed, 100 percent of Americans will be overweight or obese in 2048! \u00a0Wang Y, et al. \u201cWill All Americans Become Overweight or Obese? Estimating the Progression and Cost of the US Obesity Epidemic.\u201d Obesity 10, no. 16 (October 2008): 2323\u201330.\u00a0\u00a0In 2011, the US federal government released a multimedia tool that aims to help Americans choose healthier foods from the five food groups (grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and proteins). The tool, called \u201cChoose MyPlate,\u201d is available at <a class=\"mt-disabled\" title=\"TextMaps\/Map:_An_Introduction_to_Nutrition_(Zimmerman)\/01:_Nutrition_and_You\/1.2:_Defining_Nutrition,_Health,_and_Diseasechoosemyplate.gov\" href=\"https:\/\/www.choosemyplate.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"broken noopener\">choosemyplate.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"section_4\" class=\"mt-section\">\n<div class=\"textbox key-takeaways\">\n<h3 id=\"Key_Takeaways-440\">Key Takeaways<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"itemizedlist\">\n<li>Health is defined as \u201ca state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.\u201d\u00a0<span class=\"footnote\">World Health Organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Disease is defined as any abnormal condition that affects the health of an organism, and is characterized by specific signs and symptoms.<\/li>\n<li>Disease affects all three aspects of the health triangle.<\/li>\n<li>Good nutrition provides a mechanism to promote health and prevent disease.<\/li>\n<li>Diet-related conditions and diseases include: obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and osteoporosis.<\/li>\n<li>It took until the 1980s for the US federal government to develop a diet-related public policy designed to equip Americans with the tools to change to a healthier diet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"zimmerman_1.0-ch12_s04_s05_n03\" class=\"exercises\">\n<h3 id=\"section_17\" class=\"mt-section\">Discussion Starters<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>How might the way we nourish our bodies affect planetary health?<\/li>\n<li>Debate your classmates: Should the federal government be concerned with what Americans eat?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-29\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Defining Nutrition, Health, and Disease. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Medical LibreTexts Contributors. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Libretexts. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/med.libretexts.org\/Courses\/Sacramento_City_College\/SCC%3A_Nutri_300_(Coppola)\/Chapters\/01%3A_Nutrition_and_You\/1.1%3A_Defining_Nutrition%2C_Health%2C_and_Disease\">https:\/\/med.libretexts.org\/Courses\/Sacramento_City_College\/SCC%3A_Nutri_300_(Coppola)\/Chapters\/01%3A_Nutrition_and_You\/1.1%3A_Defining_Nutrition%2C_Health%2C_and_Disease<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Defining Nutrition, Health, and Disease. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Maureen Zimmerman and Beth Snow. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lardbucket. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/books\/an-introduction-to-nutrition\/index.html\">https:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/books\/an-introduction-to-nutrition\/index.html<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":44985,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Defining Nutrition, Health, and Disease\",\"author\":\"Medical LibreTexts 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