NoteMidterm-Tuesday, 3 March 2015

-in class-start at 10:05 am sharp -all material covered up to and inclusive

of lecture 18

-format as per syllabus

-50 minutes - answer short answer question in point

form onlyGrocery receipts – Thursday, 26 Feb. 2015-

tentative

SOCIOLOGY OF NUTRITION

Nutritional Trends 

-development of nutritional science and cognate disciplines

-developments in research on food consumption

-trends in nutritional policies

Development of nutritional science and cognate disciplines

-started in 1850 in Europe in France, Germany and Netherlands

 -since gained importance due to concept of

welfare state

-origins and growth of nutritional science were stimulated by: 

-the practical problems of food and health, -food storage and long distance food transport,

 -19th century conditions of scarcity and ill health among the working classes of industrialising western European countries were also of political and public health significance and also contributed to the growth of nutritional science

-origins and growth of nutritional science were stimulated by:

-doctors visiting the poor in western European slums came to blame the inadequate food supply for widespread infant mortality, feebleness, ill health and susceptibility to epidemic diseases -growth of the food industry- rules against food adulteration -poor food quality

-today nutritionists in western countries are stressing the importance of the relationship between good food and health 

-heart disease-type II diabetes-obesity-blood pressure-stroke-arthritis and weight-cancer

-advisory committees to federal and provincial governments have M.Ds.and Ph.Ds to advise on policies meant to overcome these problems  -nutritional science draws on biology (including molecular), biochemistry, microbiology and physiology  -also draws on history, psychology, sociology, anthropology, political and economic science

Research on food consumption and eating habits 

Large scale epidemiological studies 

-food intake, nutritional status, health characteristics and social variables

Research on food consumption and eating habits

Small scale-epidemological studies  -subgroups

-with or without biomedical and nutritional data

 -particular emphasis on pregnancy, birth and

infancy, youth and old age 

-other subgroups-the sick, the poor, students, immigrants, adherents of strict food intakes (eg some extremes of vegetarianism)

Research on food consumption and eating habits

Small scale-epidemological studies

-school feeding programmes and food security -social inequality in food and hence in our health 

-often such studies are undertaken in periods of declining welfare or economic depression and other times of hazard for groups of the population with weak income positions

Research on food consumption and eating habits

Small scale-epidemological studies

-social inequality in food and hence in our health

-hunger is still a problem in Canada 

Research on food consumption and eating habitsSmall scale-epidemological studies

-social inequality in food and hence in our health 

-the elderly--they are a growing

population

-aim of nutrient intake studies with elderly is to ensure their health in the face of growing age related health issues- this will help them live in their own homes- cheaper for government than hospital

Trends in Nutritional Policies 

Development of national food policies- -government initiated

  -prevent illness

 

Trends in Nutritional Policies

 Development of national food policies- government initiated:

-further public health by informing people about the importance of a prudent diet

-people advised to eat more fruits and vegetables and fibre containing foodstuffs and to watch out for excessive fats (trans and saturated fats in particular)

 

Trends in Nutritional Policies Development of national food policies- government initiated:

Further public health by informing them aboutimportance of a prudent diet

-food policy promoting food safety 

-this means issuing and enforcing regulations for:

 

-food producing-food processing-food distributing companies

Trends in Nutritional PoliciesDevelopment of national food policies- government initiated:

Further public health by informing them aboutimportance of a prudent diet

-complex organisations and networks set up 

-purposes of:-public enlightenment-public education-research-control

Trends in Nutritional PoliciesDevelopment of national food policies- government initiated:Further public health by informing them aboutimportance of a prudent diet

-Norwegian Nutrition and Food Policy 

-promote healthier eating habits-stabilise world food supply-increase national self-sufficiency-strengthen the rural economy

 Canada has a similar approach to the

Norwegians 

Trends in Nutritional Policies

Development of national food policies- government initiated:

Further public health by informing them aboutimportance of a prudent diet

-one food policy does not fit everyone in the population

-individual’s response to diet or a change in diet is highly individual

 

Trends in Nutritional PoliciesDevelopment of national food policies- government initiated:

Further public health by informing them aboutimportance of a prudent diet

-some policies do not recognise that : -one food policy does not fit everyone in

population -individuals response to diet and

diet change affected by genome and environmental influences

outside the realm of diet

Trends in Nutritional Policies

Development of national food policies- government initiated:

-failure to sustain agriculture due to policies that are not ecologically sound (e.g. irrigation)

 -hunger is frequently due to inadequate food

distribution rather than food production

Trends in Nutritional Policies

Development of national food policies- government initiated:

-some policies do not recognise :

-sociocultural habits of people whose food habits such policies are intended

to change