Nutrition Throughout the Human Life Cycle

The nutrition content of food is important because it supports life. Without a proper diet, people may become sick or even die because of the lack of nutrients in their meals.

Diseases

• Many diseases can be the result of a poor diet, such as scurvy, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.

Effects of children under five

• More than 200 million children in the world suffer from malnutrition. These children are underweight and more likely to catch infectious diseases.

Effects on adults

• 1.5 billion people across the world suffer from anemia, which is caused by nutritional deficiencies. Anemia is worsened by bacteria, and infectious diseases and may cause coronary heart disease and strokes.

Effects on elderly

• Aging causes problems with bone density and body composition. Isotopic tests are given because they detect what is needed to keep elders nutritionally balanced.

What is being done?

• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is developing more information on the effects of anemia for developing countries, such as Chile, India, and Peru. Isotopic techniques are being used by the IAEA to investigate malnourished children in Brazil, Mexico, and Pakistan; this technique is also used to investigate obesity in China, Cuba, and India.