THE IMPACT OF NUTRITION ON HEALTH, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND LEARNING EFFECTIVENESS OF STUDENT

ABSTRACT

The research was carried out on the topic “The impact of Nutrition on health and physical fitness and learning effectiveness of students” A case study of Federal College of Education Abeokuta. The population of this study were school of Art and Social Sciences, School of Education, School of Languages, School of Science and School of Vocational were selected at random from the five (5) schools in Federal College of Education Abeokuta, Osiele to form the population and sample. A well structural questionnaire was used as instrument for analyzing simple percentage method and the results were presented. Finally, the researcher summarises, concluded and made some recommendation.  

CHAPTER ONE

1.0              INTRODUCTION

1.1              BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

NUTRITION:  Is one of the characteristics of living things. It is the process by which living organism obtains utilize materials from external environment for metabolic activities such as respiration, growth, execration and reproduction.

FOOD: Food is any substance which when absorbed into the body cell yield energy and material for growth repairs of body process without harming the living organisms.

CLASSES OF FOOD NUTRITION

1.                  CARBOHYDRATES: According to Nutrition Journal (2007) are organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms the ration of hydrogen to oxygen is 2:1 in all carbohydrate starch, sugar, glycogen and cellulose are carbohydrates. Carbohydrate are your body’s preferred source of fuel for your muscles, brain and nervous system.  Carbohydrate come from plant and are eventually broken down to glucose in your digestive tract the converted to glycogen and store in the muscles and liver.

2.                  PROTEIN : According to 1st Holistic (2013) protein are made up of amino acids that are essential for growth, maintenance and repair of body tissue and other vital process such as:

i.        They are used for repairs of worm out or damaged tissues.

ii.      They are used to make white blood cells and antibodies.

What happens when protein is inadequate in our food. If the person is an adult, ill health result, if the person is a growing child, retarded growth weak muscle, distended stomach, swollen legs, loss of weight, and change of hair colour usually from dark to red. This condition is called kwashiorkor i.e (a disease of protein deficiency in diet).

3.                  FATS: According to Bellows (2013) fat are male up of fatty acids that help to regulate blood pressure, inflammation and blood clotting. The fat soluble vitamins such as Vitamins A, D, E and K. Fats are necessary for hormone production, insulation and protection of vital organs. Fats come from both animal and plant sources.

IMPORTANCE OF FATS AND OIL

1.      When fats and oils are oxidized, they give a great amount of energy and heat to the body.

They go into the formation of cell maintenance. They act as insulator to nerves and cell membranes.

4.                  VITAMINS: According to National Library of Medicine (2013). Vitamins are organic substances needed in small quantities in the body for health growth and development. Vitamins are not energy giving food. The most important vitamins are Vitamins A,B,C,D,E and K.

5.                  MINERALS: First Holistic (1998) Minerals are in-organic elements that come from the earth like sodium, iron, potassium, sulfur and other elements. Plant draw minerals from the earth as they grow, and humans get minerals from eating plants and animals, like vitamins, some mineral salts are important in the formation of bones and teeth while some control the chemical reactions with the body.

6.                  WATER: Taylor, (2005). Water is fundamental to human health, making up over 70 percent of your body’s mass, Besides being part of your body tissues. Water transports oxygen and nutrients to and waste products from cells.

Mayoclinic (2010) Water helps to regulate body temperature and facilitates digestion because water is continually being lost from our body through sweat, urine, feaces and our breath.

MEANS FOR CHAIN REACTIONS

Chain reaction is a process in which the result of one event triggers another event, usually of the same kind, which in turn triggers yet another event, so that the overall reaction tends to be self sustaining. Nuclear fission reactions are chain reactions, in which the splitting of an atomic nucleus releases neutrons that penetrate other nucleur, causing them to split. The spread of heat through a substance is also a chain reaction, as fast moving molecules in a hot part of the substance collide with neighboring molecules, passing on their kinetic energy to them, thereby making more of the substance-warmer cited by Houghton (2009).

THE IMPACT OF NUTRITION TO HUMAN BEING

1.      Provides materials for growth and repairs of worn out tissues.

2.      Provides energy for work and warmth.

3.      It keep the organism health so that it can fight against diseases.

BASIC NUTRITION: Holistic (1998). The body has to have the right balance of six classes of nutrients to function properly and have a high level of fitness.

Water is necessary to keep the body hydrated especially during exercise.

HOW NUTRIENT METABOLISE: For the body nutrition has to come from balance diet.

BALANCED DIET: Sydney (2002). Balance diet is a diet containing sufficient quantities of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, mineral salts, water and roughage to maintain good health. It is important to eat balanced diet all the time to stay healthy and prevent deficiency disease.

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

            A number of students failed to maintain the body diet resulting in outcome associated with inadequate physical activity and unhealthy eating.

            Lack of proper nutrition of student affect learning, physical fitness and healthy of an individual.

            Low intake of nutrition will affect physical fitness and learning effectiveness will not be achieved.

Student who are not eating balanced diet at all time will have lethargic, indolent, cheeky and haughty.

Student who are going for lecture on empty stomach will have poor academic performance.

1.3       PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The main purpose of this study is to assess the

1.                  Impact of nutrition on the health, physical fitness and learning effectiveness of students.

2.                  To find out the relationship between nutrition, health, physical fitness and learning effectiveness.

3.                  To solve problems of improper nutrition among students and improve health, physical fitness and learning achievement among students.

1.4       RESEARCH QUESTION

This project will find answer to the following question:

1.      What is nutrition?

2.      What is balanced diet?

3.      What are the composition of a balanced diet?

4.      What are the impact of good feeding on health, physical fitness and learning?

5.      What are consequences of deficiencies of nutrition? 

1.5       DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The research is limited to Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, Osiele where student will be selected from five school in Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, respectively e.g. School of Art and Social, Education, Language, Science and Vocational.

1.6       LIMITATION

Much is expected of the research work as the research work as the researchers intend, but they were faced with the following constraint.

1.      The researcher is limited and funds at their disposal was limited.

2.      Some materials need in carrying out the study were not found in time.

3.      Some respondent showed negative attitude towards the questionnaire.

1.7       DEFINITION OF TERMS

-          IMPACT: The part played by a person or thing in bringing about a result or helping something to advance.

-          NUTRITION: Can be define as the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.

-          HEALTH: Is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a livings being in humans. It is the general condition of a person mind and body usually meaning to be free from illness injury or pain.

-          PHYSICAL FITNESS: Is define as the state of general well being, physically sound and healthy along with mental stability.

-          LEARNING EFFECTIVENESS: Is the process by which through experience, changes or modifications in adjustive patterns of behaviour are brought about learning thus becomes the sum total of permanent changes which occurs in an individual, stemming out of his responses to representatives stimuli, present or past.