malnutrition

Malnutrition is a condition arising from a long-term imbalance between the body's nutritional needs and intake, including deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances of energy and nutrients. It covers a range of problems related to both too little and too much nutrition.

It encompasses undernutrition (such as stunting, wasting, underweight, and micronutrient deficiencies) and overnutrition (overweight and obesity), as well as diet-related noncommunicable diseases. The health consequences depend on age, duration, and the specific nutrients affected, and they can be present in individuals and populations.

Causes include poverty and food insecurity, inadequate dietary diversity, poor infant feeding practices, infectious and chronic illnesses, unsafe water and sanitation, and disruptions from conflict, displacement, or climate-related events. Malnutrition often results from a combination of insufficient access to nutritious foods, poor health services, and unhealthy environments.

Malnutrition can impair growth and development in children, weaken immune function, and increase infection risk, while in adults it elevates the risk of noncommunicable diseases, reduces work capacity, and can worsen outcomes during illness. It contributes to morbidity and mortality and impedes educational and economic potential.

Assessment uses anthropometry (weight-for-height, height-for-age, weight-for-age, and mid-upper arm circumference) and laboratory tests for micronutrient status. Prevention emphasizes exclusive breastfeeding for six months, diversified complementary foods, fortification, targeted supplementation, and nutrition-sensitive social protection.

Management depends on severity. Severe acute malnutrition is treated with medical care and ready-to-use therapeutic foods; moderate cases with supplementary feeding and infection management. Global efforts aim to strengthen health systems, food security, and water, sanitation, and hygiene.