we explain malnutrition
malnutrition occurs when a person gets
too much or too little of certain
nutrients
a person with malnutrition may
experience tiredness
irritability and an inability to
concentrate
malnutrition can also lead to general
health problems
slow recovery from wounds and illnesses
and a higher risk of infection
malnutrition can occur for various
reasons including
1. lack of food 2.
difficulty in eating or absorbing
nutrients
such as with certain diseases or
conditions like chronic nausea
3 physical problems such as badly
fitting dentures
4. mental health conditions like
depression or anorexia nervosa
5. social and mobility problems
such as living alone being unable to
reach a food store
or lack of money to buy food
6. digestive disorders causing the body
to not absorb nutrients efficiently
7. alcohol and drug abuse
so who is at risk
people living in areas where food is
scarce those who are socially isolated
those with a low income people with
underlying health issues or with eating
disorders
and the elderly are all at risk of
malnutrition
treatment depends on the severity of the
malnutrition and the presence of any
other underlying conditions or
complications
individual treatment plans are made for
malnourished people by health care
providers
ultimately to prevent malnutrition
ensure consumption of a range of
nutrients from a variety of
food types
also provide the elderly the young and
the ill with additional care to ensure
that they obtain the nutrients they need