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Definition of Nutrient Density

According to the Obesity Society, more than 25 percent of Americans are obese. For many, the blame lies in poor diets that do not feature enough of the nutrients a healthy body requires. Nutrient density is a way to measure the effectiveness of the food you consume for optimal health.

  1. Obesity

    • According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2005, rising obesity and type-2 diabetes rates are linked to a trend in Americans' diets: high-energy, low-nutrient foods that feature refined grains, sugars and fats.

    Definition

    • Nutrient-dense foods are defined by the ratio of nutrients to calories. The more highly nutrient-dense a food is, the more nutrients it provides per calorie.

    High-Density Foods

    • According to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in 2005, vegetables and fruits have the highest nutrient scores. The aforementioned American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study adds grains, dairy and protein to the list.

    Low-Density Foods

    • Foods with a low nutrient density include potato chips, cookies, candy, jams. It is wise avoid the types of food that are high in fats and sugars.

    Importance

    • Americans spent $75 billion in 2003 treating obesity-related conditions, according to a study published in Obesity Research. If people ate a healthier diet, obesity rates would fall and so would the medical costs of treating obesity-related conditions. Paying attention to foods that have a high nutrient-density rating can help alleviate this national problem.

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