The Impact of Diet on Physical, Social and Emotional Health
- Learning for Life and Work
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
What is a balanced diet?
A balanced diet is about:
eating the right food.
eating the correct nutrients, in the right quantities.
eating at regular times.
It is made up of the five main food groups:
bread, cereals (including breakfast cereals) and potatoes
fruit and vegetables
meat and fish
milk and dairy foods
fat and sugar
A healthy diet also includes:
eating three main meals per day breakfast, lunch and dinner.
eating at regular times.
eating plenty of fruit and vegetables and starchy foods.
limiting foods that are high in fat and sugar.
Diet affects the overall health and well being of a person. Eating a balanced and healthy diet or an unhealthy diet affects a person's social, physical and emotional health, which are inter-related and are dependent upon each other.
When a person eats a healthy diet, the effects on their physical health include:
Being healthy
A healthy diet gives the body the nutrients it needs to perform physically, maintain wellness and fight disease.
Having energy
A healthy diet gives a person more energy, allowing the person to exercise frequently and stay active.
Getting good rest
A healthy diet calms the nervous system and triggers a sleep inducing hormonal response which helps a person sleep soundly during the night.
Feeling good
A healthy diet helps a person maintain a healthy weight and so they feel good about themselves and do not suffer much with illnesses and/or injury.
When a person eats a healthy diet, the effects on their social health include:
Having increased opportunities to meet like-minded people
To socialise with people who enjoy eating the same types of healthy foods or going to restaurants that serve fresh, healthy meals.
Developing friendships
A person may meet new people through groups who enjoy eating meals made from fresh ingredients. They may meet at a cooking class and share cooking experiences and recipes.
Getting good rest
Eating a healthy diet helps a person be more relaxed and able to think clearly when speaking to people and so develop self-confidence when speaking to others.
Feeling good
A person may actively seek out ways to socialise with others, as they feel good about how they look and feel.
When a person eats a healthy diet, the effects on their emotional health include:
Feeling good
A person feels good about themselves, knowing that their body is healthy and functioning properly and so they feel good emotionally also.
Being able to exercise
A person is more active and has more energy when they eat a healthy diet. This allows the person to exercise regularly which improves their mood.
Getting good rest
When a person eats a healthy diet, they sleep well at night. If the brain is well rested a person will be much more able to cope with their emotions and deal with daily stress.
Feeling good
When a person eats a healthy diet they feel in control and enjoy maintaining a healthy weight. This also helps the person be positive and have good self-confidence and self-esteem.
Trusting the body
When a person eats a healthy diet, they usually get physically better quicker after an illness. This means less time is spent at home recovering, decreasing the chances of feeling sad, isolated or depressed.
Challenges to eating a balanced diet
Sticking to a balanced diet can be hard at times and people sometimes find it easier to opt for unhealthy options and so develop an unhealthy diet. These options include the easy availability of:
Convenience food - processed food, prepared for ease of consumption, e.g microwaveable meals.
Fast food - mass produced food that is prepared quickly, e.g. takeaway.
Junk food - cheap food containing high levels of calories with little nutritional content, e.g. crisps/chocolate bars.
Why do some people eat an unhealthy diet?
Some people are busy and so find it difficult to prepare fresh meals.
Some people have low incomes and so find it hard to afford fresh and healthy foods.
Some people lack knowledge and what it takes to prepare and cook meals from scratch.
Some people like the taste of unhealthy foods
Why people should not eat fast food/junk food/convenience?
It has low nutritional value
It can be addictive
Some may have a desire to lose weight so will avoid these foods
Some have a desire to eat a balanced diet so will rarely eat these foods
Some may have a desire to learn how to cook these meals from scratch at home
Why would people choose to eat fast food/junk food/convenience food?
The taste
The low cost
It is readily available
Quick or no preparation time
Can be part of a social event like a birthday party
Teenagers may eat convenience foods because:
The food is cooked very quick and easy (in the microwave).
Parents may be rushed off their feet due to the increasing demands of life and work, so they have little time to shop or cook nutritious meals for their teenage children.
It may be the only food in the house as deals/offers in the supermarkets means parents can feed the whole family cheaply.
They may be stressed out due to school and can easily turn to easy and ready-made meals to help them feel better.
They are busy with homework and revision so a quick meal, prepared in the microwave, can help them get back to their studies quicker.
Eating an unhealthy diet can mean:
Physical health problems such as anaemia because there is a deficiency of iron in the body.
Too much fat is in the diet and so this can result in a person gaining weight, becoming obese, having high blood cholesterol, developing heart disease.
Too much sugar is in the diet and so this can result in tooth decay, weight gain, obesity.
Too much salt is in the diet and so there is a higher risk of high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke.
A person may get ill frequently.
Recovery time from illnesses can be slow.
There is an increase in the likelihood of developing a chronic illness such as coronary heart disease.
Interrupted sleep patterns and a feeling of tiredness and lethargy all the time.
QUESTIONS YOU COULD BE ASKED ON THIS
Write down two risks of eating an unhealthy diet (1mark&1mark)
anaemia
obesity
Explain one benefit of eating a balanced diet (2mark)
Eating a balanced diet helps strengthen the immune system, which means the body can fight off infections and recover from illness more quickly.
Describe one effect of excessive dieting for a young person (2marks)
One effect of excessive dieting for a young person is that they may lose a lot of weight, which can lead to low self-esteem or poor body image if they feel pressure to look a certain way.
Describe one positive effect of dieting (2marks)
One positive effect of dieting is that it can help a young person lose weight to improve their health if they have been advised to do so by a doctor, which can lower health risks and help them feel fitter and more confident.
Explain two physical consequences of eating junk food (4marks)
One physical consequence of eating junk food is that it increases the risk of obesity, as it is often high in calories, sugar, and fat, which can lead to excess weight gain and fat being stored in the body. (2marks)
Another physical consequence is the increased risk of type 2 diabetes, because junk food can cause weight gain, which is one of the biggest risk factors for developing this disease. (2marks)
Evaluate the impact of diet on a person’s health and well-being (10 marks)
Diet plays a key role in shaping a person’s physical, emotional, and social health. A balanced diet can have several positive effects on health and well-being.
Firstly, eating a balanced diet strengthens the immune system, which helps a person fight off infections and recover from illness more quickly. This contributes to better physical health. Secondly, a good diet provides energy, which enables individuals to stay active, exercise regularly, and carry out daily tasks without becoming tired. This can lead to improved mood and emotional well-being.
Thirdly, a healthy diet provides essential nutrients for growth and development. It helps to maintain strong bones, muscles, and tissues, boosting self-confidence and encouraging a more positive body image.
However, an unbalanced or poor diet can have serious negative effects. Firstly, eating too much fast food or sugary snacks can lead to obesity, which increases the risk of long-term health conditions like heart disease.
Secondly, a poor diet high in fat and sugar can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Gaining excess weight is one of the biggest risk factors for developing this disease.
Thirdly, diets high in salt and saturated fats can lead to high blood pressure and strokes. Many fast foods contain harmful levels of sodium which can damage the heart and arteries over time.
In conclusion, diet has a significant impact on a person’s overall health and well-being. A balanced diet can improve physical strength, emotional stability, and confidence, while a poor diet can increase the risk of life-threatening diseases and reduce quality of life. It is important that individuals make informed, healthy choices about their diet to support both their short-term and long-term health.
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