Nutrition

Essay Description
To support your work, use your course and text readings and use outside sources. Cite
your sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA format.
Infant Nutrition
Infant nutrition is critically important, as an infant typically triples his birth weight and
increases his length by 50% in the first year of life alone! Without proper nutrition, this
stage of enormous growth can be jeopardized. With this in mind, answer the questions
below.
• What are the energy (kcal) and protein requirements for an infant from age 0-6
months and 6 months to 1 year? How does this compare to your energy and
protein intake? You will need to figure out your kcal and protein intake as
g/kg/day to make this comparison.
• The diet of an infant, prior to solid food introduction, consists of either breast milk
or formula. When mothers make the choice of what to feed their child during this
time, what factors come into play? For example, some cultures may be more
accepting of breast feeding than others.
• At what point is solid food recommended to be added to an infant’s diet?
Nutritionally speaking, why is this? Each infant is different, so how can it be
determined when a certain infant is ready for solid foods?
During the first year of life, what are appropriate foods and beverages to serve to an
infant? Are there any foods or beverages that should be avoided during this time?
Nutrition in the Life Cycle
From birth, all humans need the same nutrients but the amount of each that is required
will differ based on the stage of life. These differences are based on the physiological
changes experienced throughout life. For example, a period of growth (infancy,
adolescence, and pregnancy) will require more nutrients than one in which growth is not
occurring (adulthood and old age); protein is one nutrient that is needed in relatively
larger amounts to support a growth period. It is also important to consider how much or
how easily an individual can eat, whether it is because of the small stomach of a toddler
or painful dentures in an elderly individual. These issues may require an increased
frequency of eating and/or eating more nutritionally dense foods.
Nutrition for Pregnancy and Lactation
Weight gain in pregnancy is correlated with infant birth weight. Inadequate weight gain
is associated with low birth weight and intrauterine growth failure. However, excess gain
comes with risks. Health care professionals should understand why appropriate weight
gain is important and have a feel for how to discuss the topic with their clients.
Understandably, many women are a little touchy when it comes to weight gain. By
explaining that of all the components of weight gain (fluid volume, uterus and breast size,
fetus and placenta, maternal fat stores), only about ¼ of the weight gain is in maternal fat
stores, women may be persuaded to be more comfortable with it. There are good
reasons that we have evolved to put on fat stores during pregnancy–what do you think
these reasons might be?
On the other hand, “eating for two” during pregnancy is a recommendation not worth
promoting. Women who “throw caution to the wind” or see pregnancy as an opportunity
to eat anything and everything, will quickly find their weight gain accelerate out of
proportion. There is a need for about 340 to 450 more calories per day in the 2nd and
3rd trimester. This need can be met by eating an extra ½ sandwich and glass of low fat
milk per day.
Critical periods of development in utero are times when the developing fetus is most
vulnerable to maternal nutritional deficiencies. During the first 2–8 weeks of embryonic
life, key tissues (including the central nervous system, heart, ears, and eyes) are
developing. Two public health measures have been taken to reduce the incidence of
neural tube defects (such as spina bifida) in newborns. Therefore we recommend that all
women of childbearing age consume adequate levels of supplemental folate, and the
fortification of refined grains with folate.
Nutrition for Infants
Critical periods of development in utero are times when the developing fetus is most
vulnerable to maternal nutritional deficiencies. During the first 2–8 weeks of embryonic
life, key tissues (including the central nervous system, heart, ears, and eyes) are
developing. Two public health measures have been taken to reduce the incidence of
neural tube defects (such as spina bifida) in newborns. These are to recommend that all
women of childbearing age (not just pregnant women) consume adequate levels of
supplemental folate, and the fortification of refined grains (cereal and flour products)
with folate.
Child and Teen Nutrition
Dietician and author Ellyn Satter (2005) defines child overweight as “a deviation from
patterns of weight gain that are normal for that child”. Body mass index (BMI) growth
grids from the Centers for Disease Control are used to assess childhood growth patterns.
Health care professionals are advised to avoid labeling a child as overweight simply
because his/her weight is above the 85th percentile. Instead, the nutritional care plan
takes into account critical times during which the child has gained weight, and suggests
remedial measures accordingly.
The next step is to identify events preceding the weight gain. These may include
traumatic events, such as parents’ divorce or a move to new town and school.
Psychological counseling may be needed to help children express their feelings in
productive ways.
The non-dieting approach for teenagers includes nutrition education for the whole
family. The goal is to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes acceptance of
diverse body sizes.
Adult and Elderly Nutrition and Summary
Older persons are vulnerable to diminished nutritional status, which can result from
decreased intake of foods and beverages and decreased capacity to digest and absorb
nutrients from foods.
The potential for adverse nutrient–drug interactions in this age group is very high. It is
common for older persons to be on as many as six medications in a day. This can lead to
nutritional problems, such as changes in appetite, diarrhea, constipation, nausea and
vomiting, and altered taste sensations. Regular medications should be examined
thoroughly if unexplained weight loss, gastrointestinal (GI) changes, or sudden changes
in appetite occur in the patient. These issues underline the importance of caring for
elderly individuals that are in our lives.
This week, you have learned about nutrition through the lifecycle. Although all humans
need the same nutrients, the amount or frequency that we need to consume them may
differ between life stages. Attention should be paid to a child’s nutrition needs even
before they are conceived, as folate is needed in adequate amounts during the first
several weeks during pregnancy. Attention to nutrition needs should not decrease at any
point throughout life and should remain of utmost importance during old age, whether it
is for us or for the elderly individuals in our lives.
In Week 10, you will further explore how important nutrition is to the body. The immune
system will not function properly unless a healthy diet is consumed; without a healthy
immune system, the body is vulnerable to infection and insults. To this end, it is
important to be able to assess one’s nutrition status, which we will also review in Week
10.