General Facts to know
Food and Nutrition are two indispensable needs of humans. (Reference, A1) Food provides nutrients that are responsible for Nutrition. Nutrition is a process. So, learning the basics of Nutrition is particularly important to maintain a healthy and happy life.
Nutrition is a process.
Learn nutrition to achieve and maintain optimum nutritional status.
How to assess?
Follow direct (A, B, C, D) or indirect (Ecological variables, economic factors, vital health statistics) or both methods of Nutritional Assessment as per your need. So, a comprehensive nutritional assessment is recommended.
Anthropometry Assessment (Height, weight, BMI, MUAC, skinfold thickness, etc.)
Biochemical Assessment (Laboratory/diagnostic tests)-Blood, urine, tissue, etc. levels.
Clinical Assessment ((history and physical examination)-Signs and Symptoms
Dietary Assessment-Actual weighing, 24-hour recall, etc.
Use the following links to calculate your BMI (Body Mass Index) to know your nutritional status.
- BMI Percentile Calculator for Children and Teens (2 through 19 years): https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/bmi/calculator.html (CDC, References: A8).
- Adult (20 years and older) BMI Calculator: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/metric_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html (CDC, References: A9).
- https://www.emro.who.int/nutrition/information-resources/bmi-calculator.html (World Health Organization, WHO, Reference: A11)
Limitation of BMI:
It was stated by American Medical Association (AMA) that the use of BMI alone is not a perfect measure to assess obesity. (Reference A28: AMA: Use of BMI alone is an imperfect clinical measure | American Medical Association (ama-assn.org)
More…
Weight Management | Learn Nutrition Online (learnutritiononline.com)
References: A1, A2, A3, A4, A8, A9
*Used codes to publish as a separate list of references in the future.
It’s a simple, primary, and straightforward way to maintain and balance one’s nutritional status. One needs to be motivated, not worried, or panicked to see a short range of changes in body weight. These changes are very acceptable. Big fluctuations in body weight matter. So, know your ideal body weight range and then follow it up regularly (no need to follow up several times daily as a diurnal variation may occur due to differences in food and beverage intake) to obtain and maintain a healthy body weight.
Calculate your ideal weight using the following link:
https://www.bmi-calculator.net/ideal-weight-calculator/
(World Health Organization, WHO, Reference: A11, 12, 13)
All kids have unique needs. It’s not wise to recommend one thing for all. Sometimes it is harmful. So, try to have close contact with your child and learn his or her liking and disliking. It would help you to develop him or her properly. On the other hand, if you force him or her to do something that is disliked by him or her, then there is a possibility of developing short- or long-term negative effects on your child’s health. Let’s change our way of thinking and be accommodative and flexible for the development of kids at home or in other places.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw3MzkKmhT0K3CX058DC5Qw
Community-based approaches:
A participatory approach to meet community-felt needs. It also gives ownership to the participants/beneficiaries. As a result, both the sustainability and effectiveness of a program increase with the minimum cost.
Please complete the form using the following link.
(Not given yet…developing)
It’s voluntary. Personal information will not be disclosed. Data confidentiality will be maintained strictly. Data will be used to understand current trends or perceptions of separate groups of people. Thank you for your participation.
Media presence:
Updated data or news helps one to follow or change or adapt to his or her habit. It enhances one’s knowledge levels. As a result, we may expect a transition between KAP (Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice). This transition is not simple but possible. Sometimes it may take longer than expected. So, the flow of updated data from authentic sources of information using different audio-visual aids of knowledge dissemination is needed to improve the quality and standard of life.
-
“No limit on eggs for general population. Include eggs as part of a heart healthy
eating pattern”. (Heart-Foundation-Nutrition-recommendations-2019.pdf (heartfoundation.org.au) (Reference A29) -
“AMA: Use of BMI alone is an imperfect clinical measure”. (Reference A28: AMA: Use of BMI alone is an imperfect clinical measure | American Medical Association (ama-assn.org), AMA=American Medical Association
Necessity of authentic sources of information
We need authentic sources of information. The false or partially true information may be harmful or misleading to maintain and balance proper nutritional status. So, look for an authentic source of information. If you do not separate between false, partially true, and true information then it is better to compare and depend on multiple sources of information. It would help you to validate the claim(s).
Let’s try to use evidence-based data published from authentic sources. Do not just follow the words of a person or a source of information without comparing or validating the claim to keep you and your family members free from unwanted consequences or complications as well as wasting valuable time and resources.
Let’s learn some key messages to improve the quality and standard of living-
- KAP (Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice)–Transition is difficult, time-consuming but possible.
- Food, Health, and Care are three essential components to achieve and maintain nutritional status. Inadequate or missing any or more components may make you nutritionally vulnerable.
- Adequate dietary fiber, plenty of fluids, and physical activity may prevent your constipation. Make the best utilization of existing and available resources to you.
- For a normal person, it is wise to consume sugar sparingly (as much as needed, required, or recommended) than avoiding or limiting its consumption.
- For a normal person, a diversified and balanced diet having preferred foods is more effective and sustainable in weight management in the long term than a diet chart.
- Do not avoid all types of foods that may cause food allergies. It is better to avoid specific food(s) which is responsible for your food allergy.
- Cheap, and specific nutritional services (which may be delivered by a less educated person) should be widely available and accessible to general, or mass people. These would be more effective than limited, costly, and specialized nutritional services (by highly educated persons).
I really appreciate your interest. Thank you for visiting my site. Leave your comments.
Projects completed:
- Nutrient loss through wasted foods and the potentiality of wasted foods to combat the food insecurity in Bangladesh through their alternative usages. Funded by UGC (University Grants Commission), Bangladesh in the year 2008-09.
- Hygiene and sanitation practices of street waste collectors and their exposure to microbial and chemical hazards. Funded by UGC (University Grants Commission), Bangladesh in the year 2008-09.
- Principal Investigator (PI): “Survey on Ayurvedic Medical Service delivery throughout the country” 2008-09, March-May,2009, An activity of Alternative Medical Care (AMC) Under Health, Nutrition, and Population Sector Program (HNPSP) Office of the Director, Homeopathic & Traditional Medicine, DGHS (Director General of Health Services), Mohakhali, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh.
M.S. Students supervised (Thesis):
1 Sanjoy Saha, M.S. Academic session: 2007-08, School Environment and Nutritional Status of Children (7-12 years) coming from affluent families in Dhaka city in Bangladesh, Thesis submitted in January 2010, (Postdoctoral Fellow at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, linkedin.com/in/sanjoy-Saha-8a812240)
2. M A Rifat, M.S. Academic Session 2010-11, Socioeconomic status, hygiene and sanitation practices and microbial exposure of the waste collectors in Dhaka City, Submitted in 2013, master’s Student at Karolinska Institute, linkedin.com/in/m-a-rifat-07166722a.
3. Asit Biswas, M.S. Academic Session 2010-11, Nutritional Status, Dietary Intake Pattern and Exposure to Health Hazards of the Waste Collectors in Dhaka City, submitted in 2013, Head Teacher, 36th BCS, Kushabaria Govt Primary School.
4. Mohsin Hossain, M.S. Academic session:2011-12, Nutrient loss through wasted foods and alternative uses of wasted foods at commercial setting in Dhaka city in Bangladesh, submitted in 2014, Head of Department, Health & Nutrition at Social Assistance and Rehabilitation for the Physically Vulnerable (SARPV), linkedin.com/in/mohsin-hossain-997586137.
5. Shuvadip Sen Mithun, M.S. Academic session: 2011-12, Nutrient loss through wasted foods and alternative uses of wasted foods at non-commercial setting in Dhaka city in Bangladesh, submitted in 2014
6. Joynab Sultana Ushma, M.S. Academic session 2019-20, Understanding challenges, coping strategies and opportunities of employed and unemployed mothers of school-going children at selected schools and working places in Dhaka city of Bangladesh, Thesis submitted in May 2022.
7. Nyma Nahid, M.S. Academic session:2020-21, Food Habits, Dietary Coping Strategies and Nutritional Status of Women Police in Dhaka City of Bangladesh, Thesis submitted in May 2023.
8. Tamanna Akter Rintu, M.S. Academic session:2020-21, Understanding Challenges, Coping Strategies and Opportunities of Women Police in Dhaka City of Bangladesh, Thesis submitted in May 2023.