A Scientific Critique and Eight-week Case Study Addressing Psychological, Social and Environmental Factors for Healthy Eating by Twice Daily Consumption of a Meal Replacement by APOC

Abstract

Psychological and physical disabilities or impairments create barriers to aspects of healthy eating, thus nutritional needs. A Formulated Meal Replacement (FMR) can reduce those barriers and often can be seen as a necessity in optimising nutritional needs. Healthy eating is interdependent on psychological, social, and environmental factors. In recent years FMRs have become a popular nutrition method to help individuals reach their healthy eating goals. FMRs do solve several problems which may impact healthy eating, such as different social determinants of health, adherence, and permitting some unhealthy behaviours in relation to nutrition, such as more calories available for alcohol or other discretionary nutrition choices. However, FMRs do have a drawback when considering the product serving for different ages, genders, and activity levels. APOC is a nutrition-based company that has developed an FMR. APOC FMR allows easy adherence to self-administration of an appropriate serving for an individual’s age and gender at its simplest form, weight, and activity level at its more complex form. This paper provides two phases. Firstly, discussing the scientific rationale for APOC FMR’s nutrition, including addressing psychological, social, and environmental factors contributing to healthy eating. Secondly, the importance of the FMR for the case study of an individual with a disability. The APOC FMR significantly assisted the individual in healthy eating. It is important to note that the actual reasons that APOC FMR contributes to healthy eating in individuals who have a disability or impairment can be replicated to abled or only slightly limited individuals.