What is Malnutrition?
Malnutrition is when a person is not getting enough food or the right type of food malnutrition is just around the corner. A main factor that leads to malnutrition is disease because it debilitates a person and can become malnutrition, but even if people get enough food to survive it may not be the appropriate because it may be lacking nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. According to the UN's Standing Committee on Nutrition (SCN), malnutrition is the largest contributor to disease. Malnutrition can reduce mental and physical development. Malnutrition includes under-nutrition and obesity.
What is hunger and malnutrition?
Everyone feels hungry because it is a natural impulse and it is how your body tells you that needs food. Malnutrition is not the same as hunger, but they can be hand by hand in several situations. People who are malnourished lack nutrients that are needed for a proper development and health. The types of malnutrition can vary between if the person is malnourished for a short or long time. A person that is malnourished is more likely to get sick because of their low amount of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. In developing countries, 1 out of 4 children younger than age 5 are underweight.
Causes of Malnutrition
There are several causes of malnutrition in the world. The most common ones include:
Inadequate or unbalanced diet
Problems with digestion or absorption
Certain medical conditions
Starvation is a form of malnutrition in which a person goes hungry for a long period of time. Malnutrition is a significan problem all around the world, and it affects specially children which are more vulnerable. Poverty, natural disasters, wars, and political problems contribute to the malnutrition of hundreds of people.
Inadequate or unbalanced diet
Problems with digestion or absorption
Certain medical conditions
Starvation is a form of malnutrition in which a person goes hungry for a long period of time. Malnutrition is a significan problem all around the world, and it affects specially children which are more vulnerable. Poverty, natural disasters, wars, and political problems contribute to the malnutrition of hundreds of people.
Symptoms of Malnutrition
According to the National Health Services (NHS) the most common symptom of malnutrition is the loose or gain of weight.
Also the symptoms include:
Lack of strength or energy to undertake routine activities, or poor physical performance
Lack of energy and breathlessness (due to anaemia)
Changes to skin and nails
Low mood
Increase in illnesses or infections
Weakening of the muscles, which then begin to waste away
Feeling tired all the time and lacking energy
Increased vulnerability to infection
Delayed wound healing
Dizziness
Irritability
Your nails become brittle
Your skin becomes dry and flaky
Persistent diarhorrea
Depression
In women, periods become irregular
How someone has a good nutrition?
If a person eats from all the food groups,excersice and measure food portions is more likely to have a good nutrition that benefits physically and mentally our entire body!