In this article, we discussed the meaning of malnutrition, the causes, the symptoms ,we also talked about the types and how to fight it<\/p>\n
Definition<\/p>\n
Malnutrition <\/strong>refers to getting too little or too much of certain nutrients. It can lead to serious health issues, including stunted growth, eye problems, diabetes, and heart disease.<\/p>\n Malnutrition is an imbalance between the nutrients your body needs to function and the nutrients it gets. It can mean undernutrition or overnutrition. You can be malnourished from an overall lack of calories, or you might have a protein, vitamin or mineral deficiency. You might also have more excess calories than your body knows what to do with.<\/p>\n Malnutrition can have many causes, including:<\/strong><\/p>\n Inadequate diet: Not eating enough nutrients or choosing an unappealing diet<\/p>\n Medical conditions: Some conditions, like cancer, chronic diarrhea, or liver disease, can make it difficult to eat or swallow, or deplete calories<\/p>\n Mental health conditions: Depression or dementia can make people lose interest in eating<\/p>\n Eating disorders: Anorexia and bulimia are examples of eating disorders that can lead to malnutrition<\/p>\n Malabsorption disorders: Conditions like inflammatory bowel disease or pancreatic insufficiency can make it difficult to absorb nutrients<\/p>\n Physical impairments: Conditions like arthritis or strokes can make it difficult to move, chew, swallow, or prepare food<\/p>\n Poor oral health: Poor teeth or dentures that don’t fit properly can make eating difficult or painful<\/p>\n Social factors: Living alone, having limited knowledge about nutrition, or being socially isolated can contribute to malnutrition<\/p>\n Poverty: Low income or poverty can limit access to nutritious foods<\/p>\n Other factors: Alcohol or drug dependency, reliance on food banks, or having reduced mobility can all contribute to malnutrition.<\/p>\n The four broad types of malnutrition are: <\/strong><\/p>\n Wasting: Low weight-for-height<\/p>\n Stunting: A type of undernutrition<\/p>\n Underweight: A type of undernutrition<\/p>\n Micronutrient deficiencies: A type of undernutrition that occurs when there are imbalances or deficiencies in specific vitamins and minerals<\/p>\n Malnutrition can also manifest as overnutrition, which occurs when there is excessive consumption of calories and nutrients. This can lead to obesity and chronic illnesses.<\/p>\n Undernutrition can result in stunted growth, weakened immunity, and hindered cognitive development. It can make children especially vulnerable to disease and death.<\/p>\n Some common symptoms include: <\/strong><\/p>\n Weight loss: Unintentional weight loss of 5% to 10% or more over 3 to 6 months. In children, this can mean not growing or gaining weight at the expected rate.<\/p>\n Appetite: Reduced appetite or lack of interest in food and drink<\/p>\n Energy levels: Feeling tired all the time or having low energy levels<\/p>\n Strength: Feeling weaker or reduced muscle strength<\/p>\n Illness: Getting sick often or taking a long time to recover<\/p>\n Skin: Pale, thick, and dry skin that bruises easily. Skin may also be flaky and less elastic.<\/p>\n Hair: Thin hair that is tightly curled and pulls out easily. Hair may also lose its shine.<\/p>\n Nails: Nails may stop growing, become brittle, and crack a lot.<\/p>\n Mood: Low mood, sadness, depression, or changes in mood<\/p>\n Concentration: Poor concentration<\/p>\n Everyday tasks: Reduced ability to perform everyday tasks like showering, getting dressed, or cooking.<\/p>\n Malnutrition can be fought by eating a healthy diet, taking supplements, and treating underlying medical conditions: <\/strong><\/p>\n Eat a healthy diet<\/p>\n Eat a variety of foods from the four main food groups:<\/p>\n Fruits and vegetables: Provide vitamins, minerals, fiber, and roughage<\/p>\n Starchy foods: Provide calories and carbohydrates<\/p>\n Milk and dairy foods: Provide fats, simple sugars, and minerals<\/p>\n Meat, fish, eggs, and beans: Provide protein<\/p>\n Take supplements<\/p>\n If dietary changes aren’t enough, you can take supplements prescribed by a doctor or dietician<\/p>\n Treat underlying medical conditions<\/p>\n If malnutrition is caused by an underlying medical condition, treat that condition<\/p>\n Breastfeed<\/p>\n Breastfeeding babies for the first six months help them grow and develop their immune system<\/p>\n Provide nutrition counseling<\/p>\n Support families with nutrition counseling to help them keep their children nourished<\/p>\n Give vitamin A<\/p>\n Give children under age 5 two doses of vitamin A each year<\/p>\n Deworm<\/p>\n Give children regular deworming treatments to protect their immune system<\/p>\n Identify and refer<\/p>\n Identify children with early signs of malnutrition and refer them to prevent serious health problems<\/p>\n Severely malnourished children need to be fed and rehydrated with care in a hospital.<\/p>\n