Chronic malnutrition in early childhood can lead to health problems later in life, even with adequate nutrition later on. Infants between 8 and 20 months are particularly vulnerable. Malnourished individuals may develop more slowly, remain physically small, and show signs of poor nutrition. Nutrition education, food fortification, and assistance are needed to tackle chronic malnutrition. Malnutrition in pregnant women and nursing mothers can negatively impact the developing baby.
Chronic malnutrition is a persistent lack of access to necessary vitamins and minerals in early childhood, leading to health problems later in life, even if the patient receives adequate nutrition later on. Between eight and 20 months, infants are particularly vulnerable and can develop chronic malnutrition if their dietary needs are not met. Globally, several organizations work on the problems of hunger and malnutrition in children, developing intervention programs to provide nutrition for developing children.
Malnourished people are not necessarily at risk of starving. In the case of chronically malnourished individuals, they tend to develop more slowly and may remain physically small, even as adults. Additionally, they may show telltale signs of poor nutrition, such as losing hair, having flaky or brittle nails, and being physically weak. Furthermore, chronic malnutrition exposes people to the risk of cognitive disabilities caused by not eating enough while their brains are growing.
Nutrition is not just about the amount of food people consume, but also about the quality. People with chronic malnutrition are sometimes overweight due to their diets, but still don’t get the balance of vitamins and nutrients they need to survive. A significant concern for developing babies is that when they are weaned from mother’s milk, a food with a rich assortment of vitamins and minerals, they may develop malnutrition as they eat soft and solid foods.
Tackling chronic malnutrition involves a number of approaches, including food fortification, nutrition education in poor communities, and the provision of food aid and other forms of assistance. Communities with a history of malnutrition problems can be offered additional interventions with the aim of catching and treating malnutrition as early as possible. This may include educating doctors and nurses at community health clinics so they know how to handle malnourished patients.
Adults can also experience long periods of malnutrition, but it’s not as dangerous as in developing children. Fully grown adults are not at risk for developmental delays caused by malnutrition, although not having access to a balanced diet can certainly cause quality of life issues including fatigue and cognitive deficits. Malnutrition in pregnant women and nursing mothers is a particular concern, as it can negatively impact the developing baby. Babies who were malnourished in utero or while breastfeeding may never fully recover, even with nutritional intervention.
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