Balanced Diets: Key to Kids' Health & Development - Essay Sample

Introduction

Balanced diets are of importance not only to the adults but also to the children because they undergo physical, emotional and cognitive development. Children are at increased risk of several health problems including premature death if they are not fed on a balanced diet. Therefore, it is important to foster the development of not only health-promoting behaviours but also diets that may ameliorate the health risks. In this study, specific attention was given to the nature of children's diets and physical activities in the Abu Dhabi The researcher conducted a semi experimental study using 1000 students between age 8 and 18 years in Abu Dhabi for a period of one year. The researcher gained an 89% response rate and the research findings were varied across the study sample. Even though diets had health benefits, the children’s health behaviours were poor but can be controlled, and modified by the parents, the children in Abu Dhabi presented a higher percentage of overweight and obese while only a small percentage was thin or healthy. The study also summarised the beneficial effects of diet and physical activity in eliminating the triple effect of poor diets among the Abu Dhabi children and provided recommendations for future strategies to improve physical activity and dietary behaviours in the targeted population. The research found that there was a significant negative relationship between nutrition and prevalence of obesity (r= 0.81, p=0.05). There is also a significant relationship between obesity and physical activity (R2 =.70, F (2,55) =5.56, p<.01). The researcher also found that there was no significant difference between cardiovascular disease and nutrition (R2 =.68, F (2,65). There was a significant correlation between nutritional awareness and nutrition r = 0.82, p < 0.472. which means that nutrition awareness could improve nutrition among the Abu Dhabi students.A structural literature review also recognized five empirical articles that investigate diet and physical activity intervention in children at risk of obesity and other diet-related health problem. Even though intervention aimed at improving physical activity and diet among the children has been successful, it is important to develop UAE specific recommendation strategic tools that incorporate both Abu Dhabi peer and family support for sustainability and long-term commitment.Key Words: balanced diet, obesity, physical activity, peer support, parental commitment, health-promoting behaviours.The primary objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of obesity among children aged between 5 and 18 years living and schooling within Abu Dhabi, and how nutrition level, physical activities, and creating awareness on food education can impact their lives. 1000 students from an international school in Abu Dhabi were selected to participate in the survey. Three different questionnaires, including Body Image Survey, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and Rate Your Plate, were used to collect data. Cross-tabulated descriptive statistics revealed that out of the students who were found to be obese, 62.8% were Emiratis, which suggests the high degree of obesity prevalence in the United Arab Emirates. By gender, obesity was more prevalent among females than males. In an attempt to provide possible responses to such nutrition-based problems, the study formulated and tested four hypotheses on nutrition, physical activity, and the creation of awareness. Multivariate regression analysis showed that nutrition levels have a significant negative effect on the prevalence of obesity (p = 0.015) and cardiovascular diseases (p = 0.001). Physical activity had a significant positive effect on the prevalence of obesity (p = 0.000), while the creation of awareness also had a significant positive effect on dietary practices (0.025). In conclusion, the study established the need to boost nutrition education both at family and societal levels, encourage students to involve in physical activities, and create awareness on food choices. It is recommended that educational systems should integrate nutrition education and physical activities in the regular curriculum. Keywords: Nutrition, obesity, physical activity, food choices, UAE studentsThe Triple Effect of Nutrition on Abu DhabiIntroduction

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Nutrition remains one of the most fundamental aspects that define a healthy and satisfying life. Good nutrition, which is fundamentally a healthy and balanced diet, immensely impacts not only health but also the quality of life that people have. An increasing number of nutritionist and health advocates continue to emphasise on the need for people to monitor what they eat as a way to nourish their hunger, maintain energy level, and minimise the chances of developing undesired health conditions, maintain a healthy body mass index, and boost the general immune system. According to Thompson and Amoroso (2014), nutrition can be described to be good if it helps the body to get all the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that it needs to ensure the best functionality. Nutritionists have consistently emphasised the need to eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, grains, low-fat milk, lean meats, and other foods with low calories for sustainable body nourishment. However, food insecurity, malnutrition, and obesity continue to be significant challenges that thwart the goal of better health and quality living.Background of the StudyNutrition is the pillar ofthat defines a healthy person because the food, since it supplies the body with nutrients which in return increases health and lack of proper nutrition leads to diseases and conditions. The the nutrients it needs to remain healthy. However, the burden of malnutrition is high (Loechl, Branca & Aguayo, 2019). There has been a rapid growth of urban centres, especially in the United Arab Emirates which has seen a drastic change in the feeding pattern (Mabry, Bull and Owen, 2016). (UAE) and other developing countries (Loechl et al., 2019; Mabry et al., 2016). Malnutrition emerges from the imbalance between the intake of energy, giving foods and nutrients. Factors, such as rate stunted growth, obesity, and lifestyle diseases have been widely used to measure malnutrition (Al Rufaye, 2019). A report shows that about 35% of child deaths in the UAE are caused by malnutrition (Simpson, 2012).Recent research shows that there is a prevalence of stunted growth, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases (Kerkadi, 2003). This is because of the high-income revenues, low physical inactivity, and over-consumption of energy-density food.within the UAE (Global Nutrition Report, 2020). World Health Organisation (WHO) found2019) also reported that 40 % of women and 25% of men in the Ajman were obese, an increase from 16% to 34%.. Another study found out that 29% of deaths in Dubai were as a result of cardiovascular diseases with high-risk cardio-metabolic diseases (Sheikh-Ismail et al., 2009)., which are partially relatable to nutritional problems (Al-Shamsi et al., 2019). Poor nutrition causes nutrient Research by Al Anouti et al. (2011) shows there is a general deficiency and produces adverse effects on the human body.of vitamin D among young Emirati adults and related the problem to sun deprivation. According to the study, females tend to avoid sun more than males leading to a higher vitamin D deficiency in females than in males. As such, Al Anouti et al. (2011) exhibited the need to increase Emirati youths' exposure to the sun. Attia and Ibrahim (2012) found that the dressing style among women in UAE can significantly explain the inadequacy of vitamin D among them. A study by Al Junaibi et al. (2013) found that childhood obesity is prevalent across the age spectrum. They found that male sex, older age, higher parental body mass index, and low dietary intake significantly predict childhood obesity. Another study established that poor dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles lead to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular complications (Musaiger et al., 2011). According to Abdulla (2017), children whose mothers are well educated and are concerned about their dietary practices have better eating behaviour and thus are less exposed to lifestyle diseases such as diabetes type 2. All these data prove that there is a serious nutritional problem in UAE that needs to be addressed as a way to bolster public and individual health as well as the overall quality living. The prevalence of malnutrition and undernutrition is attributable to numerous factors. The leading causescause of poor diet may bein many developing countries is limited access to food and food insecurity (Ramos et al., 2017). Increased, which drives people to opt for readily available options (Dudley, 2017). Such options, in most cases, are energy giving and aim at sustaining life rather than promoting proper dietary practices. However, this might not be the case for the UAE. The country currently reported a zero percent poverty rate in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, meaning that almost all people in the regions are living above 73AED per day (The United Arab Emirates, 2020). Nonetheless, there is high consumption of fatty and sugary foods and snacks increasesin the riskscountry, which have considerably increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases, being overweight, and eventually obeseobesity (Ng et al., 2016, p. 4). Vegetables and fruits, on the other hand, increases metabolism and helps maintain the desired body weight (Glanz and Yaroch, 2004). The transition of the economy in the Abu Dhabi has led to an increased intake of regular snacks and fast foods (Popkin, 2010, p. 10). ). According to some reports, there are various bad dietary practices, including consumption of a lot of salt, eating of foods with high-calorie volumes, and little consumption of vegetables and grains are significant issues to reckon in the country (Bardsley, 2019). As such, many people in the area are essentially malnutrition, reducing the body's ability to guard itself against diseases. The malnutrition is also directly linked to the expanding rate of obesity, which continues to be a significant threat to the country (Ekelund et al., (2016, p.1307) found out that the increased rate of obesity and nutrition-related diseases were caused by low).Low consumption of vegetables and fruits, consumption of energy-dense foods, and water with soft drinks is a precursor of not only obesity but also low body nutrient levels. Vegetables and fruits have high fibre content, which helps in digestion and absorption of nutrients. Another research found out that physicalPhysical inactivity, which is because ofdue to fewer sports’sports participation, stable professional jobs, and sedentary lifestyle and disrupted sleep patterns, also leads to nutrition-related disorders and diseases (Brownell &Wals, 2017; Mabry et al., 2016, p. 1003). Physical activity and an active lifestyle increase the metabolic rate to improve appetite and burn excess body fats.

According to WHO (2000), physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of death globally. A study showsThere has been a continuing argument that reduced physical activity is due to a change in the organisation of labour, transport system and an increase in sedentary lifestyle (Brownell and Wals, 2017). Obesity in children is becoming a global issue as well. According to Cole et al., (2000, p.1240) obesity among children is defined as having too much body fat which depends on the age and the sex of the child. It is measured by calculating the body weight and the height of an individual to determine the body mass index (BMI). Sharara et al., (2018, p. 639) argue that inactive children are at a higher risk of becoming overweight and obese than their active counterparts.Lack ofsome nutritional problems can simply be addressed by...