what is malnutrition?
Malnutrition involves a dietary deficiency. People may eat too much of the wrong type of food and have malnutrition, but this article will focus on under nutrition, when a person lacks nutrients because they do not consume enough food.
Poor diet may lead to a lack of minerals, vitamins and other essential substances. Too little protein can lead to kwashiorkor, symptoms of which include a distended abdomen.
Scurvy is rare in industrialized nations, but it can affect older people, those who consume excessive quantities of alcohol, and people who do not eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Some infants and children who follow a limited diet for any reason may be prone to scurvy.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people worldwide are malnourished, and stunted development due to poor diet affects 159 million children globally. Malnutrition during childhood can lead not only to long-term health problems but also to educational challenges and limited work opportunities in the future. Malnourished children often have smaller babies when they grow up.
It can also slow recovery from wounds and illnesses, and it can complicate diseases such as measles, pneumonia. It can leave the body more susceptible to disease.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of undernutrition are :
- lack of appetite or interest in food or drink and irritability
- inability to concentrate
- loss of fat, muscle mass, and body tissue
- higher risk of getting sick and taking longer to health
- longer healing time for wounds
- higher risk of complications after surgery
- reduced sex drive and problems with fertility
In more severe cases:
- breathing becomes difficult
- skin may become thin, dry, inelastic, pale, and cold
- the cheeks appear hollow and the eyes sunken, as fat disappears from the face hair becomes dry and sparse, falling out easily
Eventually, there may be respiratory failure and the person may become unresponsive. Total starvation can be fatal within 8 to 12 weeks.
Children may show a lack of growth, and they may be tired and irritable. Behavioral and intellectual development may be slow, possibly resulting in learning difficulties. Even with treatment, there can be long-term effects on mental function, and digestive problems may persist. In some cases, these may be lifelong. Adults with severe undernourishment that started during adulthood usually make a full recovery with treatment.
Risk factors
In some parts of the world, widespread and long-term malnutrition can result from a lack of food.
In the wealthier nations, those most at risk of malnutrition are:
- older people, especially those who are hospitalized or in long-term institutional care
individuals who are socially isolated
- people on low incomes
- those who have difficulty absorping nutrients
- people with chronic eating disorders, such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa
- people who are recovering from a serious illness or condition.
We all know food provides the energy and nutrients you need to be healthy. If you don’t get enough nutrients — including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals – you may suffer from malnutrition.
Causes of malnutrition include:
- Lack of specific nutrients in your diet. Even the lack of one vitamin can lead to malnutrition.
- An unbalanced diet
- Certain medical problems, such as malabsorption syndromes and cancers
- Symptoms may include fatigue, dizziness, and weight loss. Or, you may have no symptoms.
To diagnose the cause of the problem, your doctor may do blood tests and a nutritional assessment. Treatment may include replacing the missing nutrients and treating the underlying cause.
The Health Counsellor 