Dietary diseases are diseases and conditions that are caused by or influenced by the diet. They can include deficiencies or excesses in the diet, obesity and eating disorders, and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, and diabetes mellitus.
🖋️ Some of the dietary diseases that affect humans from tender age to adulthood are:
Malnutrition
– This is a condition that occurs when the body does not get enough or too much of the nutrients it needs for growth, development, and health.
Malnutrition can be caused by inadequate food intake, poor food quality, infections, or other factors.
Malnutrition can lead to stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age), overweight (high weight for age), micronutrient deficiencies (lack of vitamins and minerals), and increased risk of morbidity and mortality.
Obesity
– This is a condition that occurs when the body accumulates excess fat that may impair health.
Obesity can be caused by excessive food intake, physical inactivity, genetic factors, hormonal disorders, or medications.
Obesity can increase the risk of various chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia (abnormal blood lipid levels), osteoarthritis (joint degeneration), sleep apnea (breathing problems during sleep), and some cancers.
Eating disorders
– These are mental disorders that affect eating behaviors and attitudes toward food, weight, and body shape.
Eating disorders can be caused by genetic factors, psychological factors, social factors, or environmental factors.
Eating disorders can include anorexia nervosa (restricting food intake to achieve low body weight), bulimia nervosa (binge eating followed by purging to prevent weight gain), binge eating disorder (eating large amounts of food in a short time without purging), and other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED) (eating disorders that do not meet the criteria for the above categories).
Cardiovascular disease
– This is a group of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels.
Cardiovascular disease can be caused by genetic factors, lifestyle factors (such as smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, stress), or other medical conditions (such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia).
Cardiovascular disease can include coronary artery disease (narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart), stroke (blockage or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain), peripheral artery disease (narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the limbs), heart failure (inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs), and arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms).
Hypertension
–This is a condition that occurs when the blood pressure is too high.
Hypertension can be caused by genetic factors, lifestyle factors (such as smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, stress), or other medical conditions (such as kidney disease, hormonal disorders). Hypertension can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, eye damage, and cognitive decline.
Cancer
– This is a group of diseases that involve abnormal growth of cells that can invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body.
Cancer can be caused by genetic factors, environmental factors (such as exposure to radiation, chemicals, viruses), or lifestyle factors (such as smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet). Cancer can affect any organ or tissue in the body and can cause various symptoms depending on the type and location of the tumor.
Diabetes mellitus
– This is a group of metabolic disorders that affect how the body uses glucose (sugar) for energy.
Diabetes mellitus can be caused by genetic factors, autoimmune factors (type 1 diabetes), lifestyle factors (type 2 diabetes), or other medical conditions (gestational diabetes).
Diabetes mellitus can include type 1 diabetes (insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas), type 2 diabetes (resistance to the action of insulin by the cells), gestational diabetes (high blood glucose levels during pregnancy), and other types of diabetes.
The prevention and treatment of dietary diseases depend on the type and cause of the disease, but generally involve dietary modifications, physical activity, medications, supplements, behavioral therapy, or surgery.
– Some of the dietary modifications that can help prevent and treat dietary diseases are:
• Eating a balanced diet that provides adequate amounts of energy, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water
• Eating a variety of foods from different food groups, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, dairy products, eggs, fish, poultry, meat
• Limiting the intake of foods and drinks that are high in energy, fat, sugar, salt, or alcohol
• Increasing the intake of foods and drinks that are rich in fiber, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, or probiotics
• Following specific dietary guidelines or recommendations for certain diseases or conditions
• Consulting with a nutritionist or dietitian for individualized dietary advice or plans
