Effects Of Obesity On Aging And Cognitive Health - 900 Words

Introduction While aging appears to be an inevitable part of life, recent research would suggest otherwise. Many factors contribute to the rate at which we age and the severity at which our bodies begin to break down. Such factors include genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. All of these factors can have differing and ranging effects on health. Genetic predisposition is good to know but it doesn’t give an individual a lot of control. Environmental factors can only be controlled to a certain extent. It is lifestyle that an individual has the greatest control over and thus can overcome what was once considered the natural process of aging. Lifestyle itself includes diet, exercise and water intake. It also consists of whether or not an individual smokes, how many and how often they take prescription drugs, and alcohol consumption. This paper will focus on diet as it pertains to aging. Discussions will include the effect of specific diets on aging and cognitive health, whic h vitamins or minerals are necessary for â€Å"graceful aging†, and what happens when diet is poor and mismanaged. Essential Nutrients The list is likely long and laborious of all the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients an individual needs throughout their lifetime in order to remain a functional and healthy lifeform. When an individual reaches old age, certain key nutrients stand out from amongst the rest. According to research, the effects of vitamin E and C were gaged againstShow MoreRelatedEating A Proper Diet For The Elderly Essay951 Words   |  4 Pagesoverweight and obesity in children has negative consequences for self-esteem, social behavior and cognitive development (2012). Prolonged unhealthy eating continues to effect the body long after childhood. 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