Food provides you with the fuel your body needs to perform basic functions and the fuel you need to push you through your activities each day. Eating too much, eating too little or eating the wrong things can all negatively affect your body's ability to function properly. Eating a well-balanced diet that follows the United States Department of Agriculture Food Pyramid can help you stay on track and well-fueled for your lifestyle, dodging unnecessary health concerns.
Eating Disorders
The website KidsHealth points to disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa as two eating disorders that negatively affect an individual's health. If you suffer from anorexia, it means you limit your dietary intake so much that your body begins wasting away. Bulimia, on the other hand, presents itself through binge eating followed by purging. Throwing up following a binge, taking laxatives or exercise excessively can all be signs you are bulimic. In either case, if you suffer from an eating disorder you aren't receiving the nutrition your body needs to function. This can result in hair loss, joint disorders, anemia and brittle bones. Left untreated, you can even die.
Obesity
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity results from a caloric imbalance that leads to excessive weight gain. When you over-consume and eat too much, weight gain inevitably results. Obesity in adults can lead to heart disease and other health problems like joint disorders, cancer and type 2 diabetes, but the nutritional concerns in children are even more pronounced. Children who suffer from obesity suffer the same health concerns as adults, but they're also more likely to suffer psychological distress and low self-esteem. Helping kids learn to use food as a tool rather than a reward or emotional crutch may help them stay healthy in the long-term.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D deficiencies cause numerous problems in children and adults. Vitamin D is produced by your body and is also consumed in foods like milk, fish and eggs. According to MayoClinic.com, Vitamin D helps bones absorb calcium and helps maintain strong bones. Children who display deficiencies in Vitamin D can develop rickets, which results in bowed and deformed bones. Adults may develop osteomalacia, resulting in weak muscles and bones. Consuming dairy products and getting sun exposure each day can help ensure proper levels of Vitamin D.
