Malnutrition can be caused by not having enough food, not being able to eat a balanced diet, or having health problems. Symptoms include dizziness, tiredness, and weight loss. In areas of poverty or famine, there may not be enough food or doctors to treat malnutrition. Babies and older adults are particularly at risk. Treatment depends on the cause of the problem.
Malnutrition occurs when the body does not get enough nutrients. This can mean not getting enough food in general, which can lead to hunger, or it can be a lack of a single nutrient, such as vitamin C deficiency, which can lead to scurvy. Causes of malnutrition include not having enough food to eat, not being able to eat a balanced diet, having health problems that prevent food from being absorbed properly, or having psychological problems, such as anorexia nervosa.
Symptoms vary according to the type of malnutrition and the severity of the problem. If an individual’s case is mild, the person may not show any symptoms. General symptoms of this condition can include dizziness, tiredness, or weight loss. A person should contact a doctor when the individual experiences fainting or hair loss. Also, a woman should contact her doctor if her period stops, and parents should contact a pediatrician if their baby is not growing properly.
The problem is more difficult in areas of widespread poverty or famine. First, there may not be adequate supplies of food. Secondly, people may not have the money to buy what food is available. Thirdly, there may not be enough doctors and physicians available to treat not only malnutrition, but any underlying cause other than lack of food that could lead to this condition.
Getting adequate nutrition is essential for children’s growth. Babies can develop a condition called marasmus, in which the child’s growth is stunted and the child’s body is thinner than it should be, if there is a severe lack of food available. Another condition that children can develop is called kwashiorkor. Kwashiorkor occurs when your child gets enough calories, but not enough protein when they eat. Symptoms of kwashiorkor include listlessness, delayed development, and enlarged liver.
While older adults don’t need as much food as they did when they were younger, older adults can be prone to developing malnutrition. Some older adults lose their sense of smell, which can make eating unappetizing. Older adults sometimes produce less stomach acid, making it more difficult for nutrients to be absorbed. It may also be physically more difficult to prepare and eat healthy meals.
Treatments vary depending on the cause of the problem. For example, if the root cause is a medical condition, the medical condition must be diagnosed and treated before the person can return to health. Not all symptoms can be “cured”. For example, bone and nerve damage may not be reversible.
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