What is Malnutrition?
It is especially important for parents to know ‘what is malnutrition’ as children that are malnourished in the first two years of their lives are likely to suffer for life!
So What is Malnutrition?
• Malnutrition is the condition when the body is not getting enough nutrients and calories to stay healthy.
• It may be a case of excessive and out of balance food intake as well as a poor diet that gives them the wrong balance of basic food groups.
• We already know that a great percentage of the world population does not eat properly and it is no surprise malnutrition is seen as the biggest threat to worldwide health by WHO- World Health Organization.
• It puts both mental and physical health at risk, by the increase in the number of certain illnesses due to the lack of ability of your weaker body to fight viruses and infections and heal.
• If malnutrition is not treated, it can lead to much more severe malnutrition, followed by serious diseases and death.
• It is not just a problem of the poorest countries of the world either, although starvation is a form of malnutrition. It has been reported that more than two million people in UK are affected by malnutrition.
• On the other hand, improving malnutrition– which happens to be the biggest health threat could potentially allow poorer economies to grow twice as much as they do now.
Causes of Malnutrition:
• Not getting enough food or the right kind of food.
• Not being able to digest food because of certain health complications.
• Starvation in the poorest countries of the world.
• Lack of one or more vitamins in the diet.
• Losing nutrients by bleeding or diarrhea.
• Taking medicines that decrease appetite.
• Natural disasters, epidemics, political problems and war.
General symptoms of malnutrition include tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss, bad mood, lack of energy, weaker immune system; and at later stages, hair loss, dry skin, slower wound healing, brittle nails.
Who is Most at Risk?
• Older people and those suffering from serious illnesses as they can not prepare food on their own.
• Poor people who find it difficult to buy nutritious food.
• Babies and children who do not get the right type or amount of calories and nutrients.
• Alcohol and drug users or addicts.
• Pregnant women.
Effects of Malnutrition:
• Malnutrition is present in 50% of all child deaths. Those that are prone to malnutrition between 0-2 years of age “window of opportunity” period and survive it, end up suffering from serious health problems, not being able to resist disease.
• Iodine deficiency– which is a type of malnutrition is the world’s greatest single cause of mental retardation and brain damage.
• Malnutrition affects school performance because of diminished learning abilities and studies have shown it often leads to a lower income as an adult.
• It may cause women to give birth to low weight and smaller babies.
• Roughly 40 million people died of hunger or illnesses linked to malnutrition in the world in 2010.
Treatment of malnutrition usually includes increasing the nutrients and calories by eating foods that are higher in calories, eating larger meals and snacks or eating smaller meals throughout the day, taking supplements to compensate for what you don’t eat.
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