Running Head: Diet and Nutrition Issues 1

Unit 6 Assignment: Diet and Nutrition Issues

Bryan Wendt
Kaplan University








HW 499
Professor Henningsen
July 22, 2014




Diet and Nutrition Issues 2
Diet and Nutrition Issues
Obesity
Obesity is not a rare occurrence in our cultural now a days as more than one third of
adults are obese. Adolescents and children are also being affected with this disease
as almost one third of them are obese.
Obesity can lead to many other disease and problems like diabetes, joint pains,
fatigue, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, high blood pressure, some cancers,
and bone problems just to name a few. Some of these are also some of the leading
causes of preventable deaths!
Other than genetic factors obesity comes from several reasons. Bad eating habits
and lack of exercise are a top of this list but also other things like the environment
around us, stress, our jobs, and our family are a few examples of why someone may
become obese.

Helpful Obesity Resources
Book Campos, P. F. (2004). The obesity myth: why Americas obsession
with weight is hazardous to your health. New York: Gotham Books.
Online Overweight and Obesity. (2014, May 22). Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Retrieved July 22, 2014, from
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/index.html
Film Lippman, F. (Director). (2009). Obesity [Documentary]. United
States: Nova Southeastern University.

Diet and Nutrition Issues 3
Genetically Modified Foods
Genetically Modified Foods are also known as GMOs. They can be defined as plants
or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or
other plants and animals.
GMOs are banned in over thirty countries across the world but the American
government approves of them and they do not need to be in print on a food label.
Why are they allowed in America? They can grow and produce faster than traditional
foods, they are more resistant to toxins and diseases, they can be altered to taste,
and they are cheaper just to name a few.
So why are they banned in other countries even though they have some benefits?
GMOs are unsafe for our health because some ingredients that are used are
intended only for preservation and have no nutritional benefits. Animals that are born
and raised on GMOs can also impact our health because after all you are what you
eat.
Helpful Genetically Modified Food Resources
Website (2013, January 24). Say no to GMOs! What are they doing to us. Retrieved
July 20, 2014 from http://www.saynotogmos.org
Book Rees, A. (2006). Genetically Modified food: a short guide for the confused.
London: Pluto Press.
Book Pardley, P.G. (2001). The future of food: Biotechnology markets and policies
in an international setting. Washington, D.C.: International Food Policy Research
Institute.

Diet and Nutrition Issues 4
Foodborne Diseases
The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest over one in six
individuals a year gets sick by consuming contaminated food or beverages. There
are many things like viruses, pathogens, bacteria, and parasites which can affect an
make someone ill.
There are over two hundred and fifty known and described foodborne diseases. Any
virus can contaminate food at any point of the process from packaging, shipping,
storing, cooking, serving, and finally consuming.
It is important to be aware of the most common foodborne diseases like salmonella,
norovirus, E. coli, and toxoplasma gondii because there are many different
symptoms for the many different viruses. When we go out to eat this is when we are
at a higher risk because our food is being prepared by someone else and we do not
always know how the food is prepared and what ingredients they may be using.
Foodborne Disease Resources
Website Food Safety. (2012, September 24). Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Retrieved July 20, 2014, from
http://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/facts.html#what
Film Dean, C. (Director). (2011). Food safety and disease prevention.
[Documentary]. United States; Meridian Education Coporation/Films Media
Group.
Book Foodborne disease outbreaks: guidelines for investigation and control. (2008).
Geneva: World Health Organization.