is a general term for the medical condition caused by an improper or insufficient ("undernourished")
Diet . An individual will experience malnutrition if the appropriate amount, kind or quality of
Nutrient s comprising a
Healthy Diet are not consumed for an extended period of time. An extended period of malnutrition will result in
Starvation .
Malnutrition as the lack of sufficient nutrients to maintain healthy bodily functions is typically associated with
Extreme Poverty in economically
Developing Countries , while malnutrition as the result of inappropriate
Dieting ,
Overeating or the absence of a "balanced diet" is often observed in economically
Developed Countries (eg. as indicated by increasingly levels of
Obesity ).
Most commonly, malnourished people either do not have enough
Calorie s in their
Diet , or are eating a diet that lacks
Protein ,
Vitamin s, or trace
Mineral s. Medical problems arising from malnutrition are commonly referred to as
Deficiency Disease s.
Scurvy is a well-known and now rare form of malnutrition, in which the victim lacks
Vitamin C .
Common forms of malnutrition include
Protein-energy Malnutrition (PEM) and
Micronutrient Malnutrition . PEM refers to inadequate availability or
Absorption of
Energy and
Proteins in the body.
Micronutrient malnutrition refers to inadequate availability of some essential nutrients such as
Vitamins and
Trace Elements that are required by the body in small quantities. Micronutrient deficiencies lead to a variety of diseases and impair normal functioning of the body. Deficiency in micronutrients such as Vitamin A reduces the capacity of the body to resist diseases. Deficiency in
Iron ,
Iodine and
Vitamin A is widely prevalent and represent a major
Public Health challenge. An array of afflictions ranging from stunted growth, reduced intelligence and various cognitive abilities, reduced sociability, reduced leadership and assertiveness, reduced activity and energy, reduced muscle growth and strength, and poorer health overall are directly implicated to nutrient deficiencies.
- Reports on World Nutrition Situation The annual reports prepared by UN Standing Committee on Nutrition contain detailed information on common challenges, extent of malnutrition, efforts being taken to address them, and a wealth of other useful information.
