Final answer:
Calorie insufficiency can lead to undernutrition and health issues like protein energy malnutrition and slowed growth. Excess calorie intake can cause overnutrition, obesity, and an increased risk of diseases like type-2 diabetes. A balanced intake is essential for maintaining good health.
Step-by-step explanation:
When calorie supplies are insufficient, the body may suffer from undernutrition, characterized by insufficient energy and nutrient supply, which can lead to conditions like protein energy malnutrition, slowed growth, and a deficiency in essential amino acids. Conversely, when calorie intake exceeds the body's needs, it may result in overnutrition, which is characterized by excessive nutrient and energy intake, leading to obesity and increasing the risk of developing serious health conditions such as type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The body requires a balance of calories for normal daily activities, typically 1500 to 2000 calories, although this amount can vary depending on an individual's routine exercise and metabolic rate. Insufficient calorie intake leads to the depletion of glycogen stores, followed by the consumption of fat reserves and eventually, protein stores, the latter only after other sources are exhausted.
Extended periods of insufficient calories can lead to the body entering a starvation mode, where fat reserves are depleted, and protein becomes the primary source of energy, potentially leading to muscle wasting. Excess calories, on the other hand, will be stored as fat in the body. Therefore, both the quantity and quality of food intake are crucial for maintaining healthy body weight and overall health.
Unbalanced nutrition can also occur, which is when the diet supplies too much or too little of specific nutrients other than energy. This can cause additional health problems, such as vitamin deficiencies or toxicities, and highlights the importance of a well-rounded diet.