Health and Social Care Level free essay sample

Negative influences within the family may play a major role in triggering and perpetuating eating disorders. Some studies have produced the following observations and theories regarding family influence. Anorexia is eight times more common in people who have relatives with the disorder, and some doctors believe that genetic factors are the root cause of many cases of eating disorders. Hormonal abnormalities are common in eating disorders and include chemical abnormalities in the thyroid, the reproductive regions, and areas related to stress, well-being, and appetite. Many of these chemical changes are certainly a result of malnutrition or other aspects of eating disorders, but they also may play a role in perpetuating or even creating susceptibility to the disorders. Also, the original causes of the eating disorder are likely to not be the factors that keep it going. Often, dieting is initiated in the hopes of producing changes that will make the person feel better or as a way of coping with negative emotions. We will write a custom essay sample on Health and Social Care Level or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page So what starts out as a way of demonstrating self-control ends up controlling the person. 6. Explain the features and importance of GDA GDA stands for Guideline Daily Amount and is the recommended amount of specific nutrients an adult should consume each day, is a guideline for an average person of a healthy weight (i. e. someone who is not intending to lose or gain weight) and level of activity. GDA guidelines are printed on food labels to inform consumers of the amount fats; sugar, calories, protein, fibre, salt and sodium are in particular product. It helps people to understand the amount of saturated fats, fats, sugar, fibre, salt etc. That is considered healthy for an everyday diet, will help you evaluate how a particular food fits into your daily meal plan and should help you manage your intake of calories and key nutrients; sugars, fat, saturates (saturated fat) and salt. An individuals nutritional requirements can vary with gender, weight, activity levels and age, meaning some people may need to eat more and others less. Typically, men require slightly more nutrients than women with the exception of salt and fibre. 6. 3 Explain why so much importance is placed on eating five portions of fruit and vegetables each day. Fruit and vegetables are part of a balanced diet and can help us stay healthy. That’s why it so important that we get enough of them. Theyre a good source of vitamins and minerals, vitamin C and potassium. Theyre an excellent source of dietary fibre, which helps maintain a healthy gut and prevent constipation and other digestion problems. A diet high in fibre can also reduce your risk of bowel cancer. They can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers. Fruit and vegetables contribute to a healthy and balanced diet. Fruit and vegetables are also usually low in fat and calories (provided you don’t fry them or roast them in lots of oil). That’s why eating them can help you maintain a healthy weight and keep your heart healthy. They are made up of water, which is also essential for the body and their skin and seeds contain plenty of fibre, which our body needs to help cleanse and rid itself of waste and toxins. Fibre is needed to keep bowel movements regular, lower cholesterol, and prevent constipation, bowel cancer and other illnesses of the bowel and intestine such as diverticulosis. Different coloured fruits and vegetables contain different minerals, nutrients and antioxidants and therefore it is recommended that we consume a wide variety of fruit and vegetables in order to receive the benefits from the various types. For example, dark green leafy vegetables such as watercress, cabbage or spinach contain certain carotenoids that protect, delay and may prevent the onset of degenerative age-related eye diseases such as cataracts or macular degeneration. They are also rich in vitamins C and E, which are both very powerful antioxidants. This means that ating dark green vegetables daily could help to protect the body from developing cancerous cells and from suffering heart disease. 6. 4 Summarise the main types of eating disorders, their symptoms and complications. Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia is a condition that goes beyond concern about obesity or out-of-control dieting. A person with anorexia often initially begins dieting to lose weight. Over time, the weight loss b ecomes a sign of mastery and control. The drive to become thinner is actually secondary to concerns about control and/or fears relating to ones body. The individual continues the on-going cycle of restrictive eating, often accompanied by other behaviours such as excessive exercising or the overuse of diet pills to induce loss of appetite, and/or diuretics, laxatives, or enemas in order to reduce body weight, often to a point close to starvation in order to feel a sense of control over his or her body. This cycle becomes an obsession and, in this way, is similar to an addiction. Anorexia can have dangerous psychological and behavioural effects on all aspects of an individuals life and can affect other family members as well. The individual can become seriously underweight, which can lead to depression and social withdrawal. Sleep can become disrupted and lead to fatigue during the day. Attention and concentration can decrease. Most of the medical complications of anorexia nervosa result from starvation. Few organs are spared the progressive deterioration brought about by anorexia, heart and circulatory system, gastrointestinal complications are also associated with anorexia, constipation and abdominal pain are the most common symptoms, overall damage to the liver. Bulimia Also called bulimia nervosa, is a psychological eating disorder, is characterized by episodes of binge-eating followed by inappropriate methods of weight control (purging). Inappropriate methods of weight control include vomiting, fasting, enemas, excessive use of laxatives and diuretics, or compulsive exercising. Excessive shape and weight concerns are also characteristics of bulimia. A binge is an episode where an individual eats a much larger amount of food than most people would in a similar situation. Some of the most common symptoms of bulimia are eating uncontrollably, Purging Strict dieting, fasting, and vigorous, exercise, vomiting or abusing laxatives or diuretics in an attempt to lose weight, vomiting blood, using the bathroom frequently after meals, preoccupation with body weight Depression or mood swings. Some of the most common complications of bulimia are erosion of tooth enamel because of repeated exposure to acidic gastric contents, dental cavities, sensitivity to hot or cold food, swelling and soreness in the salivary glands (from repeated vomiting).