Chapter – 3

Public Nutrition and Health

In this post we have given the detailed notes of class 12 Home Science Chapter 3 (Public Nutrition and Health) in English. These notes are useful for the students who are going to appear in class 12 board exams.

Chapter 3: Public Nutrition and Health

Introduction

• Public health is about what society does collectively to ensure the conditions in which people can be healthy.  
• Public health nutrition focuses on preventing both undernutrition and overnutrition to maintain the population’s overall health.  

Significance of Public Nutrition

• Malnutrition is a leading cause of death in children under five.  
• India faces a double burden of malnutrition:
  • Undernutrition: low birth weight, growth retardation, micronutrient deficiencies.  
  • Overnutrition: overweight, obesity, and related diseases like hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes.  
• This double burden poses challenges for public health.  

What is Public Health Nutrition?

• Public health nutrition promotes good health and prevents nutrition-related illnesses in the population.  
• It uses multidisciplinary approaches to solve nutritional problems in communities, especially among vulnerable groups.  
• Public health nutritionists identify, analyse, and plan strategies to address nutritional problems, considering various factors.  

Factors Related to Nutritional Problems

• Nutritional problems are linked to various factors, including poverty, lack of access to basic amenities, and government policies.  
• These factors interact in complex ways to influence the nutritional status of individuals and communities.  

Nutritional Problems in India

• Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM):
  • Caused by inadequate intake of energy and protein.  
  • Affects children, the elderly, and individuals with certain diseases.  
  • Assessed by evaluating anthropometric measurements.  
• Micronutrient Deficiencies:
  • “Hidden hunger” refers to micronutrient deficiencies.  
  • Iron, vitamin A, iodine, and zinc deficiencies are major concerns.  
  • Lead to various health problems, including anemia, blindness, and impaired cognitive development.  

Strategies to Tackle Nutritional Problems

• Diet or Food-Based Strategies:
  • Use food to overcome nutritional deficiencies.  
  • Include dietary diversification, home gardening, nutrition education, and food fortification.  
  • Sustainable, cost-effective, and adaptable to different cultural traditions.  
• Nutrient-Based or Medicinal Approach:
  • Provide nutrient supplements to vulnerable groups.  
  • Short-term strategy used for specific nutrient deficiencies.  
  • Can be expensive and may have coverage limitations.  

Nutrition Programs in India

• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): Provides food, preschool education, and primary healthcare to children under six and pregnant and lactating mothers.  
• Nutrient Deficiency Control Programs: Address deficiencies of vitamin A, iron, and iodine.  
• Food Supplementation Programs: Mid-Day Meal Programme provides free lunch to school children.  
• Food Security Programs: Public Distribution System, Antodaya Anna Yojana, Annapurna Scheme.  
• Self-employment and Wage Employment Schemes: Social safety net programs.  

Health Care in India

• Health care is provided at three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary.  
• Primary Health Centres (PHCs) provide the first level of contact with the health system.  
• District hospitals and community health Centres provide secondary level care.  
• Medical college hospitals, regional hospitals, and specialized hospitals provide tertiary level care.  

Role of a Public Nutritionist

• A public nutritionist promotes good health and prevents nutrition-related illnesses in the community.  
• They have expertise in nutritional science, assessment, education, and program management.  
• Career opportunities for public nutritionists exist in various settings, including hospitals, government programs, NGOs, and research institutions.  

Key Terms 

• Nutritional status: This refers to the state of your body regarding nutrients. It’s like a report card for how well you’re eating.  
• Undernutrition: This is when your body doesn’t get enough nutrients. It’s like your car running out of gas.  
• Malnutrition: This is a broader term that includes both undernutrition and overnutrition. It means your body is not getting the right balance of nutrients.  
• Public health: This is the science of protecting and improving the health of entire populations. It’s like a doctor for a whole city.  
• Public nutrition: This focuses on improving the health of populations through the prevention of nutrition-related illnesses. It’s like a dietician for a whole country.  
• Nutrition programmes: These are organized efforts to improve the nutritional status of populations. They can include things like food supplementation, nutrition education, and food fortification.  
• Community health: This focuses on the health of a specific group of people who share common characteristics, like a neighbourhood or a school. It’s like a doctor for a close-knit community. 

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