Healthy Heart Analysis

NCHS Students of Mrs. Madden, Ms. Kuzmanic, & Mr. Nudera
Are you at risk for a chronic disease?  The work you do for this project will help you answer that question.  One's wellness depends on many factors, some controllable and others not.  You will assess your risk of chronic disease by analyzing these risk factors.  Controllable risk factors include one's lifestyle choices of diet, exercise and stress management. Family health history is the predominant risk factor you cannot control.  All of these risk factors will be addressed in your Healthy Heart Analysis.

The Healthy Heart Analysis requires internet access.  If you don’t have access at home, use the CAI lab on your lunch period or study hall. Anytime you use the internet you may run into snags. Do your best to work through the snags, then ask your classmates and teacher for assistance.

Project Components:    Diet  | Energy Expenditure|  Fast Food  |  Family History  |  Data Analysis  |  Handouts

 

Diet Analysis:

You will use the site www.FitDay.com to get the data for your diet analysis. When you visit the site for the first time, sign-up and create a free account.  Then you can begin your diet analysis.  There are three parts to the Diet Analysis:  Set Nutritional Goals-Enter Foods-Print Reports

You will be analyzing three separate days of your food intake (diet)--two weekdays and one weekend.  This means you will go through the following steps three times--once for each day your record what you eat.

Directions to navigate FitDay.com

I.   Set Nutritional Goals at FitDay.com

After you are logged in, select Set Goals  From the menu on the left, create your nutritional goals by selecting the nutrient and clicking on Go! Set the minimum and maximum intake. Use the guidelines below or  from your Health teacher to set goals for the following nutrients;

  1. Calories:  Use the amount from entering your activities.  Click on Reports, select Where am I burning my calories?
  2. Total Fat:  30% of your daily calories--(.30 x Calories) divide by 9 = Total FatGrams
  3. Saturated Fat:  10% of your daily calories--(.10 x Calories) divide by 9 = Saturated fat in grams
  4. Total Carbohydrate:  60% or your daily calories--(.60 x Calories) divide by 4 = total Carbohydrates in grams
  5. Protein:  10-15% of your daily calories--(.10 or .15 x Calories) divide by 4 = protein in grams
  6. Dietary Fiber:  20-35 grams
  7. Calcium: Set your minimum  and maximum based on the RDA of 1300 mg
  8. Iron:  Set your minimum and maximum based on the RDA of females = 15mg  males =12 mg
  9. Sodium: Set minimum and maximum based on RDA of 2400mg

II. Enter Foods

  1. Click on Help menu and select Food Tab
  2. Read the section on custom food.
  3. Add you custom foods.
  4. Follow the directions to enter one day of food intake.
  5. Repeat for the second and third day of food intake.  Be sure to change the diet date at the top of the page.

III.  Reports:  Print out the following reports;

    1.  Am I meeting my nutrient requirements? (choose past week)

    2.  Am I meeting my custom nutrition goals? (choose past week)

 

Project Components:    Diet  | Energy Expenditure|  Fast Food  |  Family History  |  Data Analysis  |  Handouts
 
Energy Expenditure:

You will use this set of directions to determine the amount of calories you have burned.  Once again, use the site www.FitDay.com.  The accuracy of your reports will depend upon how careful you are with your record keeping.  For example, if you choose "walking" as an activity, be very realistic with your estimation of the time period and intensity.  Don't say "high intensity" in relation to walking the halls during the school day.  Our hallways are way too crowded for that speed!

I.   Activities

  1. Click on Activities.  Browse the activities, select the one you have done on the same day as the food intake you are analyzing.
  2. Click go and then add
  3.  Enter time spent and/or distance if applicable

II.  Print Reports: Print out the following reports;

1.      Where Am I Burning my Calories? (choose past week)

 

Project Components:    Diet  | Energy Expenditure|  Fast Food  |  Family History  |  Data Analysis  |  Handouts

Fast Food Analysis:

Fast food is prevalent in the American diet.  However, there are some serious implications on your wellness if you eat fast food more than once a week.  This section of the analysis will help you recognize the more healthy options available to you in the fast food market.

Use any of the links below to analyze the required  nutrients  in a complete meal from three different fast food restaurants.  Your analysis should include data on the following nutrients;  calories, total fat, saturated fat,  carbohydrate, protein and sodium.  Be sure to total each of the nutrients for the complete meal.

Fast Food Links:  Visit these links to gather the required data.

Analysis Requirements:

1.  Include a main item, side item and a drink (other than water)
2.  Organize your data into a chart.
3.  Remember to total the required nutrients for the complete meal.

 

Project Components:    Diet  | Energy Expenditure|  Fast Food  |  Family History  |  Data Analysis  |  Handouts
 

Family Health History:

 Your risk level for chronic diseases hinges on more than just what you eat or your activity level.  Your family's health history--your genetic history--plays a very significant role.  To help you take this into account, you will be analyzing your family health history.  If you are adopted and do not know your family health history, don't panic!  Just use the family you belong to!  After all, you eat what they eat and similarly to them so you share many of the same risk factors.

Be sure to include any incidences of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes., or any other diseases that are of interest to you. For guide to develop your Family Health History chart, refer to the template in the Healthy Heart folder, in the Handout folder, in the global drive as a guideline.

Analysis Requirements:

  1. Include the following family members in your analysis; grandparents, parents, your parent’s brothers & sisters, your brothers & sisters, and yourself.
  2. Include names, current age, or age at time of death
  3. In the event that there is no incidence of disease (don't forget high blood pressure), simply list the required relatives' name and their age.  In the case of a deceased relative, list the age and cause of death as it relates to our study of chronic diseases.

 

Project Components:    Diet  | Energy Expenditure|  Fast Food  |  Family History  |  Data Analysis  |   Handouts
 


Data Analysis:

Now that you have gathered all this interesting data it is time to analyze it to draw conclusions and make predictions regarding your wellness.

Address each of  the following in your typewritten analysis:

  1. Complete the Nutrient Comparison Cart.
  2. Write three measurable goals that are based on the results of this analysis.  Include the SMART goal setting components-Specific, measurable, accountability, realistic, timeline.
  3. Discuss your current energy expenditure and activity level in relation to your  wellness?  Are you going to gain weight, lose weight or maintain?  .
  4. Examining your printout of your family health history. What diseases are you at risk for? What lifestyle choices can you make now to reduce your risk of getting a chronic disease.

 


Due Date: This project is collected in sections or chunks.  See your teacher for the due dates specific to your class.

Project Components:    Diet  | Energy Expenditure|  Fast Food  |  Family History  |  Data Analysis  |   Handouts

 


Created for NCHS Health Classes. November, 2001.  Last updated: November, 2006.