When Diet Goes Wrong

Science · Organisms & Life Processes · ages 11-13

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Which condition is caused by eating far too little food energy for a long time?
- Obesity
- Starvation
- Scurvy
What happens to extra energy your body takes in from food but does not use?
- It disappears
- It is stored as fat
- It turns into vitamins
Scurvy is caused by not getting enough vitamin C.
Circle one: True False
This chart shows a person's energy eaten and energy used in one day. If this pattern repeats for years, what is most likely to happen?
- The person becomes obese
- The person becomes starved
- Nothing changes
A child's diet has almost no vitamin D. What deficiency disease could this cause?
- Rickets
- Scurvy
- Obesity
Why can a diet problem's harm take weeks or months to notice?
- Nutrient stores in the body run low slowly, so symptoms build up over time
- The body fixes all diet problems within a day
- Deficiency diseases only affect adults
A person eats 500 more energy units than they use each day. After 10 days, how many extra energy units have built up?
Answer: ______________
Jamal eats plenty of calories every day, mostly chips and soda, and gets almost no fruits or vegetables. He develops swollen, bleeding gums. What is the most likely cause?
- He is becoming obese
- He is starving from too little energy
- He has a vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) despite eating enough calories

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Starvation · Starvation happens when the body doesn't get enough energy for a long stretch of time.
It is stored as fat · Energy that isn't used doesn't disappear. Over time, storing the extra as fat leads to obesity.
True · That's right. Without enough vitamin C, the body can't repair blood vessels and gums properly, causing scurvy.
The person becomes obese · Energy eaten is much higher than energy used. Repeated every day, the extra is stored as fat and can lead to obesity.
Rickets · Without enough vitamin D, growing bones don't harden properly. That's rickets.
Nutrient stores in the body run low slowly, so symptoms build up over time · A missing nutrient often has to be low for a while before symptoms like sore gums or soft bones appear.
5000 · 500 extra units each day for 10 days is 500 times 10, which is 5000 extra units. This kind of steady surplus is what leads to obesity over time.
He has a vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) despite eating enough calories · Eating enough energy doesn't guarantee enough vitamins. Missing vitamin C, even with plenty of calories, can cause scurvy.