Ecology and Nutritional Stress in Man

Abstract

EYOND the quite considerable metabolic tolerance of man to dietary in-B adequacies lie extreme conditions of nutritional stress where health and physical status may be affected from prenatal life onward. Through either starvation or acute shortage of essential nutrients, severe nutritional stress may result in death, especially in the young. When less severe, it retards physical development, reduces vitality, and increases susceptibility to most infectious diseases. Nutritional stresses in man are clearly a reflection of his ecology, culture, and biology. The ecological factors of particular importance in this regard are the direct effect of climate upon dietary needs, the disease environment that must be endured, and the food producing potential of the living area. Cultural factors are reflected principally in food producing technologies, food preparation, differential distribution to the people, and food habits. Biological factors of major import are population dynamics and the degree of acclimatization and adaptation to stress conditions. All these factors focus upon man's food intake, which in fair measure determine who thrives and propagates and who does not in this rapidly changing world. CLIMATE AND NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTSQuite apart from matters of food supply, the climate where humans reside has a direct bearing on their nutritional requirements. In cold climates, as Mitchell and Edman (1951: 17-20) have shown, caloric needs are increased to help keep the body warm and allow for extra energy expenditures such as imposed by the hobbling effect of heavy clothing. In man there is a linear

Reaching Great Heights: Changes in Indigenous Stature, Body Size and Body Shape with Agricultural Intensification in North America

“…Adult stature is considered a good indicator of health because of its association with nutrition and stress encountered during primary growth (Bogin, 1999;Malina et al, 2004;Newman, 1962;Tanner, 1986), especially when there is chronic disease or nutritional deprivation. Adult stature is considered a good indicator of health because of its association with nutrition and stress encountered during primary growth (Bogin, 1999;Malina et al, 2004;Newman, 1962;Tanner, 1986), especially when there is chronic disease or nutritional deprivation.…”

Mortality patterns in Cuanalan, Mexico: 1866–1970

“…Very few of the subjects had ever previously visited a physician or dentist. Newman (1962) points out that malnutrition often increases a population's vulnerability to infectious diseases. In a Guatemalan population investigated by Scrimshaw et al (1959), inadequate food intake was closely correlated with increased frequency and severity of infections such as pneumonia, measles, diarrhea, and tuberculosis.…”

Life Support Systems Functional Stability and Human Control Limitations: An Astrosociological Approach

“…This led to a decrease in overall health quality due to poor nutrition. [58][59][60][61] In addition, the rise of agriculture allowed culture to become stratified allowing a few individuals to provide for the whole group. The non-farmers were able to increase their population density by moving into higher density towns and small cities.…”