Malnutrition: Causes and Effects

Let us first become familiar with what malnutrition is.

Malnourishment can refer to individuals who lack sufficient nourishment or a lack of knowledge on how to make a nutritious diet. Malnutrition is a condition when the body is not provided with proper nutrients or the right balance of nutrients for its optimal functioning.

Malnutrition is a universal health problem that affects people beyond any geographical boundaries, socio-economic status, gender, ethnicity, country, or religion. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), universally in 2019, nearly 462 million adults are underweight and about 1.9 billion people are overweight or obese. Among children under 5 years of age, 155 million are stunted, 69 million are wasted and 41 million are overweight/obese.

India's Struggle with Malnutrition

Having a history of the foreign provincial rule, partition, wars across borders, famine, pandemics, etc, India is able to achieve substantial development in health since 1947 but malnutrition remains a silent issue of health in India.

India has a huge economic inequality that has an impact on the food quality and quantity of the people. The prevalence of malnutrition under 5 years of age is high in the country because if the mother is malnourished throughout her life, then the child born also faces the consequences. In the modern age, malnutrition is not only about undernutrition it is also about overnutrition.

The Categories of Malnutrition

Undernutrition

Undernutrition is a condition that occurs when a person does not get enough food or the right kind of food to provide the nutrients needed for healthy growth and development.

It can affect both children and adults and can have a range of negative effects on physical and mental health. Undernutrition can lead to stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and reduced cognitive development in children. In adults, it can cause fatigue, muscle weakness, and increased susceptibility to illness.?

Overnutrition

Overnutrition is a condition where an individual consumes more nutrients than their body needs. It is often caused by an unhealthy diet, excessive intake of processed food, and lack of exercise. Overnutrition can lead to a number of health problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Additionally, overnutrition can lead to nutrient deficiencies, which can result in fatigue and other health issues. To avoid overnutrition, it is important to maintain a balanced diet, get regular exercise, and avoid processed and high-sugar foods.

?Micronutrient Deficiency

Micronutrient deficiency is a serious health issue caused by not getting enough essential vitamins and minerals in the diet. A deficiency of micronutrients can lead to anemia, decreased immunity, stunted growth, chronic fatigue, and even death in severe cases. Eating a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables is the best way to ensure that the body gets the micronutrients that are needed.

Protein-Energy malnutrition

Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) is a form of malnutrition caused by inadequate consumption or absorption of dietary protein. It generally occurs when a person's diet has inadequate protein, such as dairy products, eggs, legumes, fish, and meat. Furthermore, their body may not be able to absorb the necessary nutrients from these foods. It can affect both children and adults, leading to loss of weight, loss of hair and pale and dry skin, impaired wound healing, shrinking of muscles, diarrhoea conditions, impaired cognition and consciousness, apathy, and irritability.

Treatment of PEM involves increasing the dietary intake of protein-rich foods, providing medical care, and treating any infections or other health complications.

What are the consequences of malnutrition?

Malnutrition, in any of its forms - either undernutrition or overnutrition can have a detrimental effect on a country's development. It can significantly raise mortality and morbidity rates, especially among children and pregnant and nursing women.

Malnutrition has an adverse effect on the functioning of the organ systems and recovery, as it causes a loss of muscle mass or fat mass, resulting in a decrease in the body's functional capacity. It also leads to a lack of essential micronutrients and electrolytes in the body, which can impair cardiac functions, especially in children who have difficulty feeding. Additionally, it may hamper the healing of wounds and weaken the immune system.

In addition to its physiological effects, malnutrition can have a profound influence on our psychological behavior. Ailments such as depression, apathy, and anxiety can arise as a result of malnutrition.

The prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is on the rise, with both undernutrition and overnutrition playing a role. Obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are becoming increasingly common, requiring urgent medical attention and often leading to financial hardship.

This is not only damaging to individual health and well-being but could also have negative implications for a nation's development. It is therefore essential that attention is given to both under and overnutrition in order to reduce the burden of NCDs.