Health promotion: Improved nutrition.

Appropriate nutrition is necessary for optimal growth and development, physical activity, reproduction, lactation, recovery from illness and injury, and maintenance of health throughout the life cycle. A variety of health problems can occur when persons have deficits of essential nutrients or have excessive or inappropriate consumption of some nutrients. While the role of nutrition in health problems is not fully understood, epidemiologic and laboratory studies offer important insights which may help people in making food choices to enhance their prospects of attaining or maintaining health. Current data indicate an inappropriate nutritional status for a substantial proportion of the American public. For example, for people aged 20 to 74 about 14 percent of men and 24 percent of women are classified as obese. The rates are significantly higher for women regardless of their economic status. Iron and folic acid deficiencies are common among pregnant or lactating women. It has been estimated that between 10 to 15 percent of infants and children among migratory workers and certain rural poor populations suffer growth retardation due to dietary inadequacies. And the average daily sodium ingestion is substantially higher for the U.S. population generally than the recommended intake levels. But some progress has been made over the last decade. Studies indicate that people have begun to consume less total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. Prevalence of breast feeding has increased to a point where it is the mode of feeding for 45 percent of newborns in the country. And a number of recent surveys indicate that more people are interested in nutrition, are more aware of the actions they can take to maintain health through their daily eating patterns, and have initiated changes in their nutritional practices.