NUTRITION FILE WHEN DOES MALNUTRITION OCCUR?

When your body doesn't get enough nutrients. Malnourished children are stunted, underweight or wasted (extremely low weight for height)  SYMPTOMS  Loss of fat | Breathing difficulties | Depression Abnormal low body temperature | Longer healing time for wounds | Tiredness, fatigue | Pale, inelastic skin | Fertility problems | Low sex drive | Reduced muscle mass | Dry or sparse hair, hair loss  HOW SERIOUS?  WHO estimates malnutrition accounts for 54% of child mortality. Single biggest threat to global health  WHY IS IT A KILLER?  Even mild malnutrition doubles risk of mortality from malaria, respiratory and diarrheal diseases  FORMS OF PROTEIN-ENERGY MALNUTRITION  Kwashiorkor: Identified by swelling of extremities and belly, depigmentation of skin and hair  Marasmus: Causes severe wasting. Traditionally seen in famine, also among those with food restrictions or anorexia  WHERE DOES IT OCCUR?  More common in developing countries. In wealthier countries, generally caused by unhealthy diets with excess energy, fats & refined carbs  TACKLING MALNUTRITION      Fortify foods with micronutrients (vitamins & minerals)      Increase food availability through high-yielding seeds      Encourage youngsters to eat healthy      Prevent overeating  THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK      Lower income groups      Elderly people in hospital or convalescents, socially isolated      Those with eating disorders  CAUSES  Inadequate or unbalanced diet (lacking calories and protein)  Problems with digestion, absorption  Certain medical conditions  Starvation  Eating a single vitamin in diet  Abnormal nutrient loss (due to diarrhoea or chronic illness) or increased energy expenditure  Eating too many calories (overnutrition)