Describe the role of diet in preventing underweight, overweight, and obesity.

Over the years the number of overweight and obese people has been on the rise. “With Americans fatter and more malnourished than ever--almost two-thirds of the population is considered overweight or obese compared with 56 percent in the late 1980's and early 1990's.” (Gray, 2010) Overweight and obesity can be prevented with the appropriate diet which would include; fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains basically eating the appropriate amount of everything from all the food groups. Knowing the proper nutrients that we are supposed to intake will help us in maintaining our diet.  One way we can prevent being underweight and overweight is understand a healthy diet and the importance of being active throughout the day. Maintaining a healthy diet and proper exercise can definitely prevent us from being underweight as well as overweight.

 

Being underweight is just as unhealthy as being overweight because both put you at risk of health issues. Overweight is being above the normal healthy body weight having a body mass index between 25 and 29.9. Obesity is having a lot of excess fat with a body mass index of 30 or higher and it puts a person in the position of having health risks for many different diseases.

Gray, K. (2010).  The Complexity of Obesity. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, 27(19), 15-17. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Sizer, F., & Whitney, E. (2013)  Nutrition: Concepts and controversies (13th ed.)