I’ve talked before about the dangers of individual nutrient deficiencies, like when a lack of vitamin C leads to scurvy. What’s received less detail is the broader category of malnutrition, a condition that may affect as many as 1 in 3 people all around the world.
Malnutrition does, at its most basic, mean you’re not getting the right amount of nutrients. This might mean overnutrition, when you have one or more nutrients to excess, but it’s more often used to refer to undernutrition, or nutrient deficiencies.
It’s a worrying condition. Across the world, it is small children who are most at risk of malnutrition. They may experience stunted growth, skeletal deformities, a weakened immune system, cognitive and behavioral changes, a swollen stomach, hair loss, lethargy and heart problems, to name just a few potential symptoms. Malnutrition can affect every part of the body.
These malnutrition-related symptoms can lead to wider issues. They can make you more susceptible to diseases like tuberculosis, and they can also increase the transmissibility of HIV. Cognitive and behavioral impairments can affect school performance, make it harder to obtain or keep a job, and cause difficulties when building and maintaining relationships.
The most likely cause of undernutrition is not having access to enough good-quality food. Unsurprisingly, this means the poor and neglected are the most likely sufferers. Education, community support and effective public services can all help reduce the risk. Other causes of undernutrition include certain illnesses, such as gastroenteritis. In these cases, extra nutrition may need to be provided as well as treatment for the underlying condition.
Overeating can lead to overnutrition. When a lot of food is available but it is not good quality (such as when you live somewhere without a lot of fresh vegetables, but plenty of junk food), it can lead to eating excess carbs, salt and fat. The impact of this can be negated with exercise or by taking more care with your diet.
Wealthy countries like America have invested a lot of time and money in initiatives to try to tackle malnutrition and hunger in other countries. It is one of the great challenges of the modern world, with experts constantly searching for more effective ways to ensure people have adequate nutrition, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances. We’ve come a long way, but there’s a lot of work to do.
