Question

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States. As a medical assistant, what steps can you take to ensure patient understanding of dietary requirements? How do culture and ethnicity play a role in dietary intake? Why are these important areas for discussion when providing dietary information to patients?

Answer 1

Answer: Obesity has become an epidemic in United States and it is major concern of issue.  Due to busy schedule people tends to eat junk foods or fast foods as they have no time to prepare food at home. This is the reason that most of the people eat fast food that are easily available. Now adays the fast food meals are available at the restaurant such as combo pack or offers etc. which includes for example, french fries, burger, coke, or fried potato chips etc. Although they are sufficient to fulfill the hunger one's hunger but they are loaded with lots of calories.

The dietary requirements is necessary as it makes our body healthy, bones strong etc. Our body needs calcium which we can get from dietary intake such as milk and milk products.

Some people are unable to take dietary supplements, hence become more prone to the disease. Many people due to cultural differences are unable to have come nutrients for example some people don't eat non vegetarian food as they consider that it is not in their culture, hence they are unable to attain the protein from fish or white meat.

Our body needs maximum 1000 calories per day and this is sufficient for our daily needs but french fries itself has calories more than 600 calories. These junk foods are not at all healthy as they are not loaded with any kind of nutrients but have lots of carbs and calories, unhealthy fats which increases cholesterol level in the body. This typical fast food are the major reason that people are becoming more prone to diseases. Even grilled sandwiches can be used alternative of these fast foods, but people are fond of the fried things which doesn't have any nutritional values.