Factors Affecting Nutritional Health

Nutritional health refers to the level of health as determined by diet and how this affects overall health and wellbeing. Factors that will affect nutritional health include what a person eats, how often they eat, lifestyle choices and how well the body uses the nutrients it gets from the diet.
Socioeconomic Status: Lower income and less education often lead to poorer diet choices due to the expense of healthier food options and lack of knowledge. Lower socio-economic groups are more likely to have a poor diet that lacks vital nutrition.
Age: Different age groups have different nutritional needs. Infants, for instance, require nutrition to support rapid growth while older adults may need diet modifications to manage chronic health conditions.
Cultural Factors: Different cultures and religions have varying diets. Cultural beliefs and traditions can play a large role in food choices and dietary habits.
Health Conditions & Medications: They can affect nutritional health by altering the body’s ability to utilise nutrients or by changing the amount of certain nutrients the body needs. For instance, diabetes requires a balanced diet, and some medications can cause a loss of appetite or interact negatively with certain foods.
Physical Activity Levels: These determine the amount of calories and nutrients one’s body needs to function. Those who engage in high levels of physical activity will need more calories, protein, and nutrients compared to someone who is largely sedentary.
Psychological Factors: Mental health conditions, stress, and eating disorders can significantly impact dietary habits and nutritional health.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Women during pregnancy or when breastfeeding need extra nutrients in their diets for the healthy development and nutrition of their babies.
Lifestyle Choices: Smoking, alcohol use, sedentary behaviour, and irregular eating patterns can negatively influence dietary choices.
Access to Food: Physical access to supermarkets and fresh produce can greatly impact a person’s diet. Living far from shops or having limited transportation can lead to a poorer diet.
Disability or illness: They can affect a person’s ability to get, prepare, chew, swallow or digest food.
Allergies or Intolerances: Limit the type and range of foods a person can eat, requiring careful nutritional planning.
Awareness and knowledge: Whether a person is informed about balanced meals, calories, nutrients, and the role of a diet on their overall health can shape their nutritional health greatly.