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Relationship between malnutrition and health

By Auréa Cormier, ndsc, Ph. D.Emeritus Professor of Nutrition

Université de Moncton

Presentation OutlineFour scenarios of low-income households to

illustrate the difficulties to eat nutritious foods1;Impact of poverty on health;Effects malnutrition throughout the life cycle;Nutritional status of the elderly and associated health

risks;Conclusion.1 These scenarios are based on calculations from Statistics

Canada and the Common Front for Social Justice’s data.

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1. Worker at $9.50/hr (40 hrs per week) with a spouse and 2 children

INCOME• Wages $19 760 • Payroll deductions $1 377 • Net income $18 358 • Child Care Tax Benefit $7 475• GST benefit $772 DISPOSABLE INCOME $26 605

EXPENSES• Shelter

$8,712 • Power $1,940 • Telephone

$360 • Car expenses $6,854• Childcare $3,118 • Clothing $2,586 • Personal care $1,016 • Food $9,674 TOTAL EXPENSES $34,260

This family lacks $7,600 and will cut into its food budget

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2. Single mom with a 9-year old son

INCOME• Wages $17,290• Deductions $2,365 • Net income $14,925• Child Care Tax Benefit $3,985 • GST return $639 DISPOSABLE INCOME $19,549

EXPENSES• Shelter $8,004• Power $1,506• Telephone $360• Car expenses $6,854• Childcare $3,118 • Clothing $1,293• Personal care $1, 016• Food $2,933TOTAL EXPENSES 25 084 $

She is short by $5,500 and may cut on food expenses (detrimental to her son)

3. A 55-year old woman living alone on social assistance

INCOME• Social assistance

$6,444• GST return

$253DISPOSABLE INCOME $6, 697

EXPENSES• Room at $325/mo .$3,900• Telephone $360• Travel (Bus passes) $696• Clothing $565• Personal care $1,016• Food $2,573TOTAL EXPENSES $9,110

She is short by over $2,400 and cannot afford an apartment nor proper food so she goes to a food bank

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4. A 75 year-old woman with old age pension + gararanteed income suppl.

INCOME• Pension + suppl.

$15,088• GST return

$386DISPOSABLE INCOME $15, 474

EXPENSES• Shelter $7,740• Power $1,107• Telephone $360• Bus pass + taxis $936• Clothing $565• Prescription drugs $1,440• Personal care $1,016• Food $2,573TOTAL EXPENSES S15,737

She is short by $263 because of medical expenses (She needs 8 pills per day (50% of seniors take 5 medicationor more/day)

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Overall, many low-income people are worried about their food intake

These four scenarios show that certain groups do not have enough money to buy nutritious food;

These calculations are conservative because there is nothing included for health care, leisure, newspapers and books, educational activities and insurance payments.

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Impact of poverty on health1

Health status is worse for those with lower incomes and this was demonstrated in 16 studies conducted in four different countries;

A national survey indicates that 73 % of Canadians in the highest income group rated their health as excellent while only 47% of Canadians in the lowest income group reported excellent health.

1 Source: Shelley Phipps. 2003. The Impact of Poverty on Health

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Disease frequency (Source: Phipps, 2003)

Chronic diseases are much more common in the poorest regions of Canada:–10.1% of adults between 15 and 64 years

old living in the Maritimes reported high blood pressure versus a national average of 6.8%;–17.0% of children from the Maritimes

suffered from asthma, compared to 12.7% for children’s national average.

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Three major effects of malnutrition1. Difficiencies in protein, vitamins and minerals

(iron, zinc, vitamins A, B6, B12, C and folates) lower the level of antibodies, making people more prone to various infections, the flu, etc.

2. An iron defficiency reduces the size and color of red blood cells, thus lowering oxygen transport to tissues (this leads to fatigue, muscle weakness, drop in productivity, etc.);

3. A lack of calcium is associated with calcium withdrawal from bones (fragile, and less dense)

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Infant mortality rate in Canada

048

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4.5%7.5%

12%M

orta

lity

rate

per

1,0

00 b

irth

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• In the U.K., a 10-year difference in life expectancy was observed between rich and poor neighbourhood;

• Income increase is associated with improved health status, especially among the poorest;

• Countries with the narrowest income gap are those where the population is in better health

• Our elected politicians would improve the health of our population if they increased the taxes of the wealthy to provide a better social safety net for those who are the poorest.

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Effets of malnutrition throughout the life cycle

Baby

Child

Adolescent

Woman withpoor health Pregnantstatus woman

Elderlyperson

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Baby with low birth

weight

Malnutrition of mother

during pregnancy

Set-back in mental

development

Higher mortality

rate

Increased risk of chronic disease during adulthood

Poverty in the early years is detrimental

to health

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Enfant with retarded

growth

Baby with low birth weight Frequent

infections

Inadequate diet

Poor healthReduced mental

ability

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Adolescent with retarded

growth

Child with retarded growth Insufficient

health care

Inadequate diet

Poor healthReduced mental

ability

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Pregnancy with insufficient

weight gain

Adolescent with retarded

growthInsufficient health care

Inadequate diet

Poor health

High maternal mortality rate

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Elderly person in poor health

Adult in poor health Inadequate

diet

Nutritional status of elderly people Study by Dr Lita Villalon based on 340 Moncton seniors1

Over 60% of seniors living ate home consume less that the number of food portions recommended by the Canada Food Guide for: Dairy products Fruit and vegettables Cereal products

1Published in Port Acadie, 18-19, fall 2010, spring 2011

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Nutritional status of seniors (continued)

Calcium, zinc and vitamin D intakes were insufficient in the case of 80% of seniors;

Low intakes of calcium, vitamin D, folates and zinc should concern us;

Calcium, vitamin D and folates are associated with healthy bones and cardiovascular health.

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Nutritional status of seniors (Continued) Zinc plays an important role in the

immune system; a difficiency may cause alterations in mental capacity, a loss of appetite or diarrhea;

Among the 340 seniors studied, 80% had at least one chronic health problem;

Three health problems or more were noted in 33 %, of the cases.

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ConclusionMany individus and families in New Brunswick

do not have enough money to eat healthily.Research shows clearly that low income

people are in poorer health: they are sick more often, levels of infant mortality are higher, life expectancy is shorter, etc.

The negative impacts of malnutrition are carried throughout the life cycle, especially during the senior years.