Overnutrition
Encyclopedia
Overnutrition is a form of malnutrition
in which nutrients are oversupplied relative to the amounts required for normal growth, development, and metabolism
. Overnutrition is a type of malnutrition where there are more nutrients than required for normal growth.
The term can refer to:
For mineral excess, see:
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is the condition that results from taking an unbalanced diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess , or in the wrong proportions....
in which nutrients are oversupplied relative to the amounts required for normal growth, development, and metabolism
Metabolism
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
. Overnutrition is a type of malnutrition where there are more nutrients than required for normal growth.
The term can refer to:
- obesityObesityObesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
, brought on by general overeating of foods high in caloricCalorieThe calorie is a pre-SI metric unit of energy. It was first defined by Nicolas Clément in 1824 as a unit of heat, entering French and English dictionaries between 1841 and 1867. In most fields its use is archaic, having been replaced by the SI unit of energy, the joule...
content, as well as: - the oversupply of a specific nutrient or categories of nutrients, such as mineral or vitamin poisoningVitamin poisoningVitamin poisoning, hypervitaminosis or vitamin overdose refers to a condition of high storage levels of vitamins, which can lead to toxic symptoms...
, due to excessive intake of dietary supplements or foods high in nutrients (such as liverLiver (food)The liver of mammals, fowl, and fish are commonly eaten as food by humans. Domestic pig, ox, lamb, calf, chicken, and goose livers are widely available from butchers and supermarkets....
), or nutritional imbalances caused by various fad diets.
For mineral excess, see:
- Iron poisoningIron poisoningIron poisoning is an iron overload caused by a large excess of iron intake and usually refers to an acute overload rather than a gradual one. The terms has been primarily associated with young children who consumed large quantities of iron supplement pills, which resemble sweets and are widely...
, and - low sodium dietLow sodium dietA low sodium diet is a diet that includes no more than 1,500 to 2,400 mgs of sodium per day. People who follow a vigorous or moderate exercise schedule are usually advised to limit their sodium intake to 3,000 mg per day and those with moderate to severe heart failure are usually advised to...
(excess sodium).