OBJECTIVES

To meet the specific nutritional needs of each person in each situation.

To establish overweightness and obesity prevention patterns for the population in general, by means of nutritional education programs.


STAGES IN NUTRITION
Nutrition during development

Meeting nutritional needs during the phases of growth is essential in order to achieve correct development and to prevent or to overcome the problems which may arise from alimentary disorders.

Nutrition during adulthood

Adulthood has different needs and is characterized by a high percentage of persons who suffer numerous nutritional problems.

Nutrition and aging

Las necesidades nutricionales en las personas mayores son especialmente importantes y pueden dar lugar a serios problemas de salud.

Nutrition in special or pathological situations

Many concrete situations in our state of health require special attention to individual nutritional needs.


COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS
Obesity

A significant risk factor for chronic diseases such as type II diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, cerebral infarct and certain types of cancer. It is necessary to forestall obesity from the moment when overweightness makes its appearance.
Population affected: both the mature population and youths and children.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Anemia due to lack of iron, of vitamin B12; osteoporosis; folic acid and fiber deficiencies, among others.
Population affected: principally females and seniors.

Disorders of alimentary behavior

Anorexia and bulimia associated with depression, anxiety and multifactorial disorders.
Population affected: principally youths, with approximate percentages of 15% among male university students and 21% among female university students.

Intolerance to certain foodstuffs

Each person responds differently to foodstuffs, depending on his/her immune system. Non tolerated foodstuffs should be temporarily eliminated as a safeguard against chronic problems.


NUTRITION AND GENES

Foods act on the human genome and can alter it. Certain types of diet may be unadvisable for those persons who present a risk factor of certain diseases, detected by means of their genome.

Some diet-regulated genes play a basic role in the onset, incidence, progression and/or severity of chronic diseases.

The extent to which a diet exercises an influence on the balance of the states of health/sickness may depend on the genetic load of each person.

Dietetic intervention based on the knowledge of nutritional requirements, of the nutritional situation and of the genotype, that is to say, individualized nutrition, is a weapon for preventing, mitigating or curing certain diseases, likewise for increasing the quality of life in old age.