Nutrition Science and Everyday Application - beta v 0.1

370 ALICE CALLAHAN, PHD, HEATHER LEONARD, MED, RDN, AND TAMBERLY POWELL, MS, RDN
person eats and expends each day is influenced by so many different factors that it can
be frustratingly difficult to apply. Still, it’s a vitally important concept to understand. We live
in a world where food is easily available, and we’re constantly bombarded with marketing
messages telling us to eat more of it. Not surprisingly, the prevalence of obesity is rising
around the globe, and the health effects of carrying too much weight are a concern at both
the population and personal levels. On the other hand, being underweight or overly focused
on body weight also carry health risks. In this unit, we’ll explore these concepts and concerns
and seek some answers.
Unit Learning Objectives
After completing this unit, you will be able to:
1. Understand the concepts of energy input and expenditure, energy balance, and how they relate to
body weight.
2. Describe the concerns with being underweight and overweight, appreciating that body weight affects a
person’s physical health but also their mental health and their experience living in a world with unrealistic
expectations around body size and shape.
3. Describe the characteristics of a healthy body composition, ways that it can be measured, and
limitations to these measurements.
4. Appreciate the global trends in the rising rates of obesity worldwide, and identify possible causes and
solutions.
5. Understand the challenge of and best practices for managing body weight in a way conducive to
physical and mental health.
6. Acknowledge the importance of a moderate approach when it comes to nutrition and weight
management, recognizing all foods can fit into a healthful diet.
7. Recognize that nutrition and its effect on our physical body is only one dimension of health and others
are equally important, including exercise, sleep, finding purpose, freedom from excessive stress and
community relationships.
References
• Hutchinson, A. (2018, November 14). The Greatest Challenge on a Solo Antarctic
Crossing? Food. Retrieved October 13, 2019, from Outside Online website:
https://www.outsideonline.com/2365661/colin-obrady-how-fuel-solo-unassistedantarctic-crossing
• Neville, T. (2019, August 15). Colin O’Brady Wants to Tell You a Story. Retrieved
October 13, 2019, from Outside Online website: https://www.outsideonline.com/