Page 43 - Coespu 2018-4

Environment Protection and Malnutrition:

a close relationship

By Dr. Davide PEREGO

When we treat the matter of Environment
Protection, we think about of the habitat,
to the protection of nature and the
ecosystem. It's right, but we have to
consider also life condition of the civilian
population. In this situation specific types
of disease can be a challenge for us, and
always health risks differ from country to
country. What is instead a common factor
in all region where we are involved in
peace mission, is very often the
malnutrition.
Malnutrition is a specific type of disease, that refers to getting too little or too much of certain
nutrients. In our country but also in all rich countries the effect of malnutrition is, firs of all, the
obesity and the cardiovascular and metabolic problem. The main signs of over nutrition are
overweight and obesity, but it can also lead to nutrient deficiencies.
Research shows that people who are overweight or obese are more likely to have inadequate intakes
and low blood levels of certain vitamins and minerals compared to those who are at a normal
weight
One study in 285 adolescents, the population that is more hitted by this problem owing to the life
style, found that blood levels of vitamins A and E in obese people were 2–10% lower than those of
normal-weight participants.
This is likely because overweight and
obesity can result from an
overconsumption of fast and
processed foods that are high in
calories and fat but low in other
nutrients, and of the absence of
movement.
A study in over 17,000 adults and
children found that those who ate fast
food had significantly lower intakes
of vitamins A and C and higher
calorie, fat and sodium consumption
than those who abstained from this
type of food.
Chronic over nutrition can lead to obesity and to metabolic syndrome, a set of risk factors
characterized by abdominal obesity, a decreased ability to process glucose (insulin resistance),
unhealthy lipid levels, and high blood pressure (hypertension). People with metabolic syndrome

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