Unbalanced diet

What is an unbalanced diet?

A diet supplies both macro-nutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) and micro-nutrients (vitamins, minerals and trace elements). An unbalanced diet does not supply enough nutrients.

What are the complaints associated with an unbalanced diet?

An unhealthy diet is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases. Health deteriorates most when people eat too little fish and fruit. Eating too much fat is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. An iron deficiency leads to complaints such as anaemia. Shortages of micro-nutrients cause diseases in certain risk groups, examples being a vitamin K deficiency in newborns (up to 3 months), a vitamin B12 deficiency in vegans and alcoholics, or a folic acid deficiency in women around conception. A vitamin D deficiency can be found in young children, people with dark skins, people who do not go outside enough, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, women who wear a veil, women aged over 50 and men aged over 70. A vitamin D deficiency can result in osteoporosis, an increased risk of bone fractures, muscle weakness and immune disorders.

How common is an unbalanced diet in the general population?

Only a small proportion of people comply with the WHO recommendation to eat fish twice a week, virtually no one complies with the recommendation of 200 grams of vegetables a day and only 7% eat two pieces of fruit. ¹⁴⁴

How common is an unbalanced diet in people with intellectual disabilities?

A Dutch survey of 470 people in the Netherlands with intellectual disabilities aged 50 years and over showed that 98.9% failed to comply with the WHO recommendation relating to the consumption of fish, vegetables and fruit. ¹¹⁵

A large Australian survey of 2540 people with intellectual disabilities (in which questionnaires were answered by carers and parents) found that 18% of the study sample had an unbalanced diet. ¹¹⁶

People with intellectual disabilities are more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency, iron deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency. ¹¹⁷

A Finnish study of 138 males with intellectual disabilities found that 78% had low (less than 50 nmol/L 25-OH vitamin D) blood levels for vitamin D. ¹¹⁸

The Dutch GOUD study looked at nutrition using the MNA list (Mini Nutritional Assessment). This list has proven a reliable and effective way of establishing a picture of diet in older people with intellectual disabilities if it is completed by attendants or carers, but not by the people with intellectual disabilities themselves. ⁴⁷⁷

Research with this list has shown that 69% do not get consume enough calories, that 98% do not comply with the recommendations for fibre consumption, that 90% eat too much saturated fat and that 30% consume too few proteins, with the risk of a faster loss of muscle mass and muscle strength, and therefore an increased risk of a loss of independence. ⁴⁷⁸

Dutch research looking at children with severe multiple disabilities shows that malnutrition is not necessarily related to levels of calorie intake but more to personality characteristics. Dietary status is poorer in girls, older children, mobile children and, to a lesser extent, children who do not receive tube feeding owing to, among other things, the energy used by these children. ⁴⁷⁹