Lecture Notes on Risk Factors, Obesity, and Diet Misconceptions

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about risk factors, obesity, calories, and common misconceptions about health and diet.

Nonmodifiable Risk Factors

Risk factors that cannot be controlled, such as age and heredity.

Age as a Risk Factor

The likelihood of developing lifestyle diseases increases for people age 40 and above due to structural changes in the heart and blood vessels.

Gender as a Risk Factor

Females have a higher tendency to develop lifestyle diseases, usually after menopause.

Heredity as a Risk Factor

Considered the strongest risk factor for lifestyle diseases; individuals with a family history are more likely to develop these conditions.

Modifiable Risk Factors

Risk factors that can be controlled.

Stress as a Risk Factor

Can damage blood vessels, leading to heart ailments; sources include daily hassles, emotional outbursts, and anxiety.

Smoking

The nicotine content can damage blood vessels and lead to lifestyle diseases, lung cancer, and pulmonary disease.

Alcohol Intake

Excessive consumption can damage blood vessels; moderation is key (1-2 beers for males, 1 beer for females daily).

Personality as a Risk Factor

Traits like competitiveness, impatience, aggressiveness, and perfectionism have been linked to the development of lifestyle diseases.

Obesity

A state of being well above one's normal weight or the acceptable weight for one's build.

Factors Leading to Obesity

Inactive physical lifestyle and improper food selections.

Complications of Obesity

Pulmonary diseases, stroke, cancer, liver diseases, gall bladder disease, osteoarthritis, cataracts, heart disease, diabetes, pancreatitis, gout, and death.

Calorie

A unit of energy-producing potential in food; if unused, it is converted to fat and stored.

Misconception: Skinny = Healthy

Low body weight does not automatically equal good health, and thinner people should not assume they are immune to health issues; diet is a better indicator of internal well-being.

Misconception: Eggs are bad for heart

For most people, an egg a day does not increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular disease.

Misconception: All fruits should be peeled

The skin on fruits and vegetables is packed with beneficial nutrients, high in fiber, and can help you feel fuller for longer.

Misconception: Eating fat, you get fat

We gain weight when we eat more than our needs, whether the excess comes from protein, carbohydrates, or fats; fat makes food taste good, leading to satiety and less food consumption later.

Misconception: Natural is better than sugar

Sugar is sugar, regardless of the name; when added to foods, molasses and honey are as caloric as sucrose or table sugar.

Misconception: Coffee stunts your growth

Genetics determine your height; there is no scientifically valid evidence to suggest that coffee can stunt a person's growth.

Misconception: Chocolate causes acne

The evidence is inconclusive, and for now, there is no proof to suggest that the occasional chocolate bar is going to have an impact on your skin.

Misconception: Eight glasses of water a day

Consume water during meals and whenever you feel thirsty; a reliable indicator of hydration is the color of your urine (it should be clear or similar to lemonade).

Misconception: Rice that has stood is fattening

All food when eaten in excess is fattening because of the intake of unneeded calories.

Drinking cold water can make fat congeal

Water cannot cause fat to solidify when you drink it because it takes on the same temperature as the body; cold water is more easily absorbed.

Sugar causes diabetes

The major factors that cause diabetes are being overweight or obese, family history, and the lack of physical activity.

If you want to lose weight, you skip meals

The proper way to lose weight is through moderation, variety, and balance, making adjustments in your diet, eliminating unhealthy food, and exercising.