Malnutrition Facts

Malnutrition is a common problem in most of the developing countries in Asia and Africa. There are approximately more than 15 million people who die of hunger every year and it is said that the cost involved in making a missile can actually feed around 2000 children for approximately 5 years. These are all facts and none of it is made up. According to a survey one out of twelve people in this world is malnourished and here we would discuss what malnutrition is and deprivation to which extent can be termed as malnutrition so that we understand the term better which is seemingly the reason for death of half of the children worldwide.

What can be termed as Malnutrition?

It is defined as the condition wherein the body of a human being fails to get the required nutrients sufficiently or not at all which results in various disorders of the internal organs of the body. Malnutrition can refer to under nutrition as well as over nutrition. So when we talk about malnutrition it would encompass both the conditions of the human body. There are very few people in the world who suffer from over nutrition but there are many who suffer from under nutrition. As a result of which there are many deficiency diseases, which have been diagnosed in the malnourished people. It is an obvious irony that the people in developed countries tend to suffer from over nutrition and people from the developing countries suffer from under nutrition. There are various fatal diseases, which gradually take shape in under-nourished people especially children.

Forms of Malnutrition

There are two types of malnutrition, which are as follows:

• Primary Malnutrition
• Secondary Malnutrition

Primary malnutrition occurs when a person fails to get food and is dependent on somebody for his /her food whereas Secondary Malnutrition occurs when a person does not have the appetite or will to have the available food. So Primary Malnutrition is a result of compulsion and Secondary Malnutrition is the result of choice.

Malnutrition can also be classified on the basis of form which are as follows:

• Protein Energy Malnutrition or PEM
• Micronutrient Malnutrition

Protein Energy Malnutrition is a condition when the body of a person does not have enough proteins to absorb or the body cannot absorb the available proteins and nutrients. Micronutrient Malnutrition is that state of the body when the body is deprived of some of the essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals and the absence of which can result to various deficiency disorders like Scurvy, Beri Beri, Night Blindness and many more.

Causes of Malnutrition

Malnutrition can be caused due to many factors like the political condition of the country, price hike of food, famine, poverty and many more. Apart from social problems it can be caused due to personal reasons like depression, alcoholism, digestive disorders and addiction of drugs.

Symptoms of Malnutrition

There are specific symptoms for different malnutrition caused diseases yet there are some such symptoms, which would show up irrespective of the disease that is inflicting the patient. Some of which are weight loss, fatigue, decreased immunity and dizziness. Some of the other symptoms include loss of hair, swelling of the eyelids, wrinkles on face and inflammation of glands.