TNAG-2110-FCO40-3009-Hong-Kong-participation-in-international-organisations-1990 — Page 221

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DEFINITION OF MAIN TERMS AND CONCEPTS USED

APPENDIX A

1. Specific nutritional deficiencies of essential vitamins and minerals are generally associated with overall undernutrition; with some exceptions (notably iodine and vitamin D deficiencies), it is rare to find an individual with a specific nutrient deficiency who is otherwise well-fed. The major specific nutritional deficiencies encountered commonly in the developing countries of the Region are: vitamin A deficiency resulting from low levels of retinol or carotenes in the diet; anaemia arising from the inadequate intake or absorption of dietary iron; and goitre or related debilities such as cretinism and deaf mutism arising mainly from insufficient intake of dietary iodine. There are also other relatively less. common dietary deficiencies such as those of riboflavin (vitamin B2) and thiamine which impair nutritional well-being. The definitions of the terms and concepts used in dealing with these deficiencies in this paper are given below.

2. Food availability data used in this paper have been retrieved from national food balance sheets (FBS) prepared by FAO from the information supplied by the individual countries. Food availability is derived from food supply after deducting quantities of food put to other uses such as feed, seed, and non-food processing. Market and household-level wastage are not taken into account and food availability figures cannot therefore be equated with food consumption. Per caput food availability data are expressed in terms of per caput dietary-energy supplies (DES).

3. Dietary Energy Supply (DES) is the energy content of foods available for potential human consumption after making allowances for non-food uses, losses (storage, distribution, processing, household), stock changes, import/export, etc.

4. The national average energy requirement is a weighted average, calculated according to the age/sex distribution of the population, the actual or reference body size and the estimated energy expenditure level of the population. Provision can be made for including allowances for special physiological demands such as pregnancy and lactation, desirable activity level, catch-up growth for undernourished children and repeated bouts of infection. The figures used in this document include allowances for infection in children, for pregnancy, and for moderate activity levels. They do not include allowances for household-level wastage.

5. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the rate of energy expenditure of an individual, fasting and completely at rest, in a temperate environment. 1.4 BMR is the cut-off point set for minimum energy requirement below which maintenance of health is not possible. It allows activities associated with washing, dressing, eating, as well as minimum movements and other activities needed for communication.

estimates of undernutrition provided in this paper are based on 1.4 BMR.

The

6. Calorie is the unit of heat used in the science of nutrition most frequently to

to indicate an energy equivalent. The joule is the energy expended when 1 kg is moved 1 m by 1 newton. One kilocalorie, is equivalent to 4.184 kilojoules.