Nutrition and Weight Control Special Report
Nutrition and Weight Loss Glossary
Johns Hopkins Nutrition and Weight Loss Glossary
Derived from The Johns Hopkins White Paper: Nutrition and Weight Control
abdominal obesity
Excessive fat in the abdomen indicated by a waist circumference greater than 40 inches in men and 35 inches in women.amino acids
Building blocks of proteins. Certain amino acids, called essential, must be obtained from the diet because the body does not produce them.antioxidants
Substances that help the body neutralize free radicals. Beta-carotene, vitamin E, and vitamin C are some examples of the hundreds of naturally occurring antioxidants.atherosclerosis
An accumulation of deposits of fat and fibrous tissue, called plaques, within the walls of arteries that can narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow.bariatric surgery
An operation designed to cause weight loss, often by reducing the size of the stomach.body mass index (BMI)
A measurement of weight in relation to height that is considered a good indicator of body fat. Calculated by multiplying weight in pounds by 703 and dividing the result by the square of height in inches. Overweight is defined as a BMI between 25 and 29.9 and obesity as a BMI of 30 and over.calorie
The quantity of energy in a food. Carbohydrates and protein contain four calories per gram; fat contains nine calories per gram; alcohol contains seven calories per gram.carbohydrates
Foods made up of sugars or starches.cardiovascular disease
Disease affecting the heart or arteries of the body.carotenoids
A collection of plant pigments that are found in yellow, orange, red, and dark green fruits and vegetables and may lower the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Examples are beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin.cholesterol
A soft, waxy substance present in cells throughout the body. Deposition of cholesterol in blood vessels initiates the formation of plaques.DASH diet
An eating plan that can help control blood pressure and may also improve cholesterol. Rich in vegetables and fruits, the diet also includes low-fat dairy products and is low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol.diabetes
A disorder characterized by abnormally high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood.dietary cholesterol
The cholesterol present in and obtained from animal foods
meats, poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs, and dairy products. Plant foods contain no cholesterol.dietary supplement
A product (in pill, liquid, or powder form) that is taken in addition to one's regular diet. The supplement can contain a single substance
such as ginkgo biloba, ginseng, or St. John's wort
or a combination of substances.enriched food
A food to which a nutrient or nutrients has been added. Often, the added nutrients were present in the original food but were lost during processing, such as in enriched bread.enzyme
A protein that accelerates chemical reactions in the body.essential amino acids
Amino acids that the body cannot synthesize and thus must be consumed in the diet.essential fatty acids
Fatty acids that are not made by the body and must be obtained from food.fiber
An indigestible component of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes that has numerous health benefits. There are two principal types of fiber: insoluble fiber, which does not dissolve in water and helps prevent constipation; and soluble fiber, which dissolves in water and helps to regulate blood levels of glucose and cholesterol.fortified food
A food to which a nutrient or nutrients has been added to promote health and prevent disease. The nutrients added to fortified foods are not present in the original food or were present in smaller amounts. Vitamin D-fortified milk is an example.free radicals
Chemical compounds that can damage cells and oxidize LDL cholesterol so that it is more likely to be deposited in the walls of arteries.functional foods
Foods that provide a health benefit beyond the traditional nutrients they contain.gastric bypass
A type of obesity surgery that reduces the amount of food that can be eaten and absorbed by the body. Gastric bypass involves sealing off a portion of the stomach and bypassing part of the small intestine.genetically modified food
Food that has been genetically altered. DNA from one plant or animal species is inserted into the DNA of another species to increase food production, decrease the need for pesticides, improve food quality, or help prevent disease in people.height/weight tables
Tables that display ranges of weights according to different heights. The information was derived from the mortality data of people seeking life insurance.high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
A particle in the blood that can protect against coronary heart disease by removing cholesterol from the walls of arteries.Posted in Nutrition and Weight Control on April 14, 2007
