underweight,overweight, and obese

Underweight people have a BMI below 18.5 (Sizer & Whitney, 2012). These people are at risk if they have to go without food for an extended length of time, such as during a famine or natural disaster, or an extended hospital stay where they may have to go without food for tests or surgery (Sizer & Whitney, 2012). Underweight people also suffer from worse outcomes from heart disease or cancer as they have no energy reserves to spare (Sizer & Whitney, 2012). This increases their mortality in the face of such diseases or situations. Overweight people have a BMI between 25 and 29.9, while people with a BMI over 30 are considered obese (Sizer & Whitney, 2012). These individuals are at much greater risk for heart disease, hypertension, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and many other health problems (Sizer & Whitney, 2012). All of these diseases increase the mortality rate and shorten the lifespan (Sizer & Whitney, 2012).

A proper diet can prevent all of these conditions by ensuring that the calories one is consuming are adequate for their needs. Too few calories and the person will be underweight, too many and they will be overweight or obese. Consuming too many empty calories is bad in either situation, as someone consuming too few calories needs all the nutrition they can get for what they are consuming, and a person who is consuming too many calories does not need the additional load of calories with no nutritional benefit (Koopson & Young, 2009).

References

Koopson & Young, (2009). Integrative Health: A holistic approach for health Professional. (1 ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2012).  Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies, MyPlate Update (12th ed.).  Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.