Nutrition During Adulthood and Childbearing Years Module Overview

Introduction

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In adulthood we must continue to focus on proper nutrients and exercise as well as disease prevention. Don't let the busyness of life outweigh the importance o a healthy lifestyle! How old are your parents? Do they look their age? Do they look young or old? All the answers to the questions could be related to the way they take care of themselves. The adult population is at high risk for diseases related to obesity and lack of exercise. Nutrition and exercise play a key role in the way adults feel, look, and live. Habits continue from childhood, adolescence into adulthood--even bad ones! Practices such as consuming fast food and living sedentary lifestyles become even more common as we age. Many adults choose convenience foods instead of healthy natural foods. Busy lifestyles, work schedules, and family obligations keep them from exercising on a daily basis. To make up for this, adults try to choose "diet" products that are loaded with chemical sweeteners or substitute fats. Sometimes these can cause adverse reactions and upset stomach. Everyone is looking for what is easy. However, poor eating habits can result in increased risk of life-threatening diseases. Women face a greater risk for weight gain in adulthood because of childbirth and hormonal changes. To prevent extra weight gain, women and men should get at least 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week. They should complete weight bearing activities that build muscle mass and bone mass. Daily stretching increases flexibility and can prevent muscle and joint damage. Figures estimate that almost one out of every two adult Americans has a chronic disease. So, even though it might be easy to choose convenience, life is better without it!

Essential Questions

How are adults affected by exercise?
What role does exercise play in the prevention and management of chronic disease in adulthood?
What does a nutritional diet look like?
What type of fat is okay for adults to consume?
Why do adults tend to choose artificial sweeteners over sugar?

Key Terms

Obesity - defined as weighing twenty percent or more over ideal body weight
Body Mass Index - (BMI) a weight-to-height ratio, calculated by dividing one's weight in kilograms by the square of one's height in meters and used as an indicator of obesity and underweight
Menopause - a time in a woman's life when her ovaries stop releasing eggs and the production of estrogen and progesterone slow down
Chronic - persisting for a long time or constantly recurring
Sedentary - being inactive or having irregular activity

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