S/N ABIFARIN O.

FACTORS AFFECTING NUTRITION, FOOD SELECTION AND EATING HABIT

We cannot but explain what nutrition means and how important it is by making every individuals keep
up with daily energy needs, body immunity, growth and development.

What is nutrition?

What is food selection?

What does eating habit means?

Knowing fully well that these 3 questions contributes to growth development, we shall briefly go
through their definitions before talking about factors affecting it respectively.

* Nutrition is the process of obtaining the food necessary for health and growth. In other words,
Nutrition is the biochemical and physiological process by which an organism uses food to support its life.
It provides organisms with nutrients, which can be metabolized to create energy and chemical
structures. Failure to obtain the required amount of nutrients causes malnutrition.

* Food selection or food choice is the study of those factors that influences food choice making.

* Eating habit can be defined as a conscious, collective, and repetitive behaviors, which lead people to
select, consume, and use certain foods or diets, in response to social and cultural influences.

Although, factors affecting nutrition, food selection and eating habit varies while some are interwoven,
but in this study we shall categorize each with factors affecting them respectively.

i. FACTORS AFFECTING NUTRITION

Many things that can cause altered nutrition such as;

a. PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTOR: Nutritional intake is affected by several physiological factors. Appetite is

controlled by the hypothalamus, a tiny gland deep within the brain that triggers feelings of hunger or
fullness depending on hormone and neural signals being sent and received. Hunger causes a feeling of
emptiness in the abdomen and is often accompanied by audible noises coming from the abdomen as the
stomach contracts due to emptiness. Hunger can cause feelings of discomfort, nausea, and tiredness.
Satiety is a feeling of fullness that often comes after eating, although it can also be caused by
impairments of the hypothalamus. Electrolyte imbalances and fluid volume imbalances can also trigger
hunger and thirst by sending signals to the hypothalamus.

b. ALTERED METABOLIC STATES: Metabolic demands impact nutrient intake. In conditions where
metabolic demands are increased, such as during growth spurts in childhood or adolescence, nutritional
intake should be increased. Disease states, such as cancer, hyperthyroidism, and AIDS, can increase
metabolism and require an increased amount of nutrients. However, cancer treatment, such as
radiation and chemotherapy, often causes nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite, making it difficult
for patients to obtain adequate nutrients at a time when they are needed in high amounts due to
increased metabolic demand.

Other diseases like diabetes mellitus cause complications with nutrient absorption due to insulin. Insulin
is necessary for the metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, but in patients with diabetes
mellitus, insulin production is insufficient or their body is not able to effectively use circulating insulin.
This lack of insulin can result in impaired nutrient metabolism.

c. DRUGS AND NUTRIENTS DISORDER: Some prescription drugs affect nutrient absorption. For example,
some medications such as proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole) alter the pH of stomach acid, resulting
in poor absorption of nutrients. Other medications, such as opioids, often decrease a person’s appetite
or cause nausea, resulting in decreased calorie and nutrient intake.

d. A POORLY FUNCTIONING GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT: A poorly functioning gastrointestinal tract

makes nutrient absorption difficult and can result in malnourishment. Diseases that cause inflammation
of the gastrointestinal tract impair absorption of nutrients. Examples of these conditions include
esophagitis, gastritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and cholecystitis. Patients with these disorders
should select nutrient-dense foods and may require prescribed supplements to increase nutrient intake.

e. ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE: Alcohol and drug abuse can affect nutritional status. Alcohol is calorie-
dense and nutrient-poor. With alcohol use, the consumption of water, food, and other nutrients often
decreases as patients “drink their calories.” This may result in decreased protein intake and body protein
deficiency. Nutrient digestion and absorption can also decrease with alcohol consumption if the
stomach lining becomes eroded or scarred. This can cause hemoglobin, hematocrit, albumin, folate,
thiamine, vitamin B12, and vitamin C deficiencies, as well as decreased calcium, magnesium, and
phosphorus levels.

Drug abuse of stimulants, such as methamphetamine and cocaine abuse, causes an increased metabolic
rate and decreased appetite and contributes to weight loss and malnourishment.

ii. FACTORS AFFECTING FOOD SELECTION

a. ECONOMIC RESOURCES: If a patient has inadequate financial resources, food security and food
choices are often greatly impacted. Healthy, nutrient-dense, fresh foods typically cost more than
prepackaged, heavily processed foods. Poor economic status is correlated with the consumption of
calorie-dense, nutrient-poor food choices, putting these individuals at risk for inadequate nutrition and
obesity. Social programs such as Meals on Wheels, free or reduced-cost school breakfast and lunch
programs, and government subsidies based on income help reduce food insecurity and promote the
consumption of healthy, nutrient-dense foods. Nurses refer at-risk patients to social workers and case
managers for assistance in applying for these social programs.

b. TIME: Without a doubt, time matters. How much time we have can no doubt prove a key factor that
influences food selection.

These days, it is very difficult for many of us to find the time to prepare food from scratch for ourselves,
taking kwara state college of nursing oke ode students as a key example, they hardly have time for
appropriate and delicious meals that suits their cravings due to timelessness, tight schedules and
impromptu lectures. As we become busier and busier, there seems to be less time for cooking meals at
the hostel or home, thereby leading many students to a one way pattern of food selection which will
eventually have a adverse effect on their health e.g consecutive taking of groceries and floating berries.

That, coupled with the slew of fast food restaurants and food delivery services, makes it less likely that
those of us who lead busy lifestyles will cook at home. The accessibility of such services is a great
convenience, a convenience that has an indelible impact on what foods we eat.

c. CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS: Cultural and religious beliefs often influence food selection and
food intake. It is important for nurses to conduct a thorough patient assessment, including food
preferences, to ensure adequate nutritional intake during hospitalization. The nurse should not assume
a particular diet based on a patient’s culture or religion, but instead should determine their individual
preferences through the assessment interview.

Cultural beliefs affect types of food eaten and when they are eaten. Some foods may be restricted due
to beliefs or religious rituals, whereas other foods may be viewed as part of the healing process. For
example, some cultures do not eat pork because it is considered unclean, and others eat “kosher” food
that prescribes how food is prepared. Some religions fast during religious holidays from sunrise to
sunset, where others avoid eating meat during the time of Lent.

d. SURGERY AND UNDERLYING CONDITIONS: Surgery can affect a patient’s food selection due to
several factors. Food and drink are typically withheld for a period of time prior to surgery to prevent
aspiration of fluid into the lungs during anesthesia. Anesthesia and pain medication used during surgery
slow peristalsis, and it often takes time to return to normal. Slow peristalsis can cause nausea, vomiting,
and constipation. Until the patient is able to pass gas and bowel sounds return, the patient is typically
ordered to have nothing by mouth (NPO). If a patient experiences prolonged NPO status, such as after
significant abdominal surgery, intravenous fluids and nutrition may be required.

Surgery also stimulates the physiological stress response and increases metabolic demands, causing the
need for increased calories. The stress response can also cause elevated blood glucose levels due to the
release of corticosteroids, even if the patient has not been previously diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.
For this reason, nurses often monitor post-op patients’ bedside blood glucose levels carefully.
Bowel resection surgery in particular has a negative impact on nutrient absorption. Because all or parts
of the intestine are removed, there is decreased absorption of nutrients, which can result in nutrient
deficiencies. Many patients who have experienced bowel resection require nutrient supplementation.

Bariatric surgery is used to treat obesity and reduce obesity-related cardiovascular risk factors. Bariatric
procedures alter the anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract, which makes patients
susceptible to nutritional deficiencies.[65] Read more about bariatric surgery and long-term nutritional
issues using the hyperlink in the following box.

iii. FACTORS AFFECTING EATING HABIT

a. COOKING SKILLS: Individuals' cooking skills emerged as a factor influencing dietary intake on campus
life. Some of us love to meal prep and cook, while others do not. Similarly, some of us are blessed with
culinary skills, whereas others not so much. The greater the passion for cooking, the greater the drive to
want to cook. And the greater the motivation, the more opportunities to develop and refine cooking
skills. When we enjoy cooking and can do it well, we are certainly less likely to buy and eat processed,
nutrient-stripped foods.

Although exceptions exist, those of us who are competent cooks are less likely to resort to buying take-
out food. Conversely, those who do not enjoy cooking or do not feel confident in the kitchen, are likely
to rely more on the convenience of fast, processed or packaged food.

b. COST OF FOOD: Unfortunately, in many parts of the world where food is scarce it is impossible to
have any choice at all when it comes to food. This is an incredibly sad fact of life. And it certainly
requires a staunch and sustained effort on the human race to eradicate. For many of us, however, it is
possible to have some say in what foods are bought and eaten.

Without a doubt, how much food costs is an important factor that influences food choices. Frequently,
how much money we have at our disposal severely restricts what food we can buy. This is especially true
when more nutritious foods tend to cost more than heavily processed, nutrient-drained foods.

With guidance from health professionals and a little self-research, learning to buy and eat nutritious
foods is no doubt possible, even on a tight budget.