Malnutrition

What is malnutrition?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

Malnutrition means that your body isn't getting enough calories or the right balance of nutrients to stay healthy. This can happen if you don't get enough protein, carbohydrates, and fats, eat too much unhealthy food, or don't get the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

Malnutrition can affect people of all ages, but children, older adults, and people with chronic (long-term) health problems have a higher risk.

What are the types of malnutrition?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

Most people think of undernutrition with malnutrition. But malnutrition can refer to undernutrition, overnutrition, or an imbalance of nutrients.

Types of malnutrition include:

• Protein-energy undernutrition, also called macronutrient undernutrition, happens when your body doesn't get enough protein or calories from food. Two serious forms of this are kwashiorkor and marasmus.
• An imbalanced nutritional status occurs when you are not getting the right mix of nutrients. You may get enough calories, but not enough vitamins or minerals.
• Vitamin deficiency diseases happen when your body doesn't get enough of certain vitamins. Without the right vitamins, your body cannot stay healthy and may develop specific diseases. For example, scurvy can develop from too little vitamin C, rickets from too little vitamin D, and anemia from too little iron or vitamin B12.
• Failure to thrive occurs when children don't gain weight or grow as expected. This may be due to not getting enough food, trouble absorbing nutrients, or other health problems.
• Overnutrition can occur when your body gets too many calories or nutrients. This may lead to obesity or other health issues.

What causes malnutrition?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

Malnutrition may occur for many reasons, including:

• An unbalanced diet that lacks variety or specific nutrients.
• Some medical issues, which could include malabsorption syndromes, dementia, eating disorders, depression, alcohol use disorder (AUD), or cancer.
• Problems with swallowing, digestion, or dental issues.
• Certain medicines that affect how food tastes and smells.
• Not being able to get food or cook due to things such as chronic illness, mobility issues, or low income.

Who is at risk for developing malnutrition?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

Malnutrition can affect anyone, but some people have a higher risk than others. This includes people who:

• Don't have enough knowledge about nutrition
• Don't have access to a variety of food
• Are older adults or children
• Have a low income
• Have a chronic (long-term) illness

What are the symptoms of malnutrition?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

The symptoms of malnutrition can vary. You may have no symptoms, but if you do, they may include:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Dizziness
• Losing weight without trying
• Low body weight
• Slow growth or development in children
• Frequent infections or slow healing
• Dry skin or brittle hair and nails
• Swelling in the legs, feet, or belly

How is malnutrition diagnosed?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

To check for malnutrition, your provider may:

• Do a nutritional screening, which may include questions about weight loss, changes in your appetite, and your ability to eat.
• Do a physical exam and order blood tests to check for signs that you don't have enough nutrients.
• Refer you to other providers that specialize in nutrition, such as a dietician.

What are the treatments for malnutrition?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

Treatment for malnutrition may include improving your diet, replacing missing nutrients, and treating the underlying cause.

Can malnutrition be prevented?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

To help prevent malnutrition, eat a healthy diet with many different foods. Talk with your provider if you are worried about your diet, weight loss, or your child's growth.

Which doctor should you see?

The suggested department for discussing Malnutrition is General Medicine, with a general physician / internal medicine as the relevant type of clinician. General physician / Family Medicine; paediatrician for children. Referral depends on symptoms.

This is an editorial referral starting point. The appropriate clinic depends on the person’s age, symptoms, previous diagnosis and local services. The first clinician can decide whether another specialty or a team is needed; a department label does not confirm the diagnosis.

How to prepare for an assessment

Bring a short timeline of the main symptoms: when they first appeared, whether they are constant or episodic, what seems to change them, and how they affect daily activities. Include previous reports, discharge summaries, current medicines and supplements, allergies, and any relevant family history. A dated record is more useful than trying to match every feature in an online article.

Ask the clinician what is already established and what remains uncertain. If a test is suggested, ask what question it answers, what its limitations are and how the result would change the next step. The information here is not an instruction to arrange every possible test. In children, bring growth, developmental and school information if it is relevant to the concern.

• Which findings are most important in deciding the next step?
• Could more than one problem explain the symptoms?
• Who will coordinate referrals and review the results?

Treatment discussions and follow-up

Where the source describes treatments, these are an overview of possible care, not a prescription for an individual. Ask which option applies to the confirmed diagnosis, what benefit is expected, what adverse effects to watch for and how progress will be assessed. Availability, approvals and local practice can differ from the country described in the source.

Before leaving the appointment, clarify the next review date, who will communicate results, and whom to contact if the situation changes. Discuss difficulties with sleep, work, school, mobility, eating or emotional wellbeing when these are relevant. Practical support may require coordination between the treating clinician and other services.

The collected references do not establish a complete prevention or long-term outlook section for this entry. Missing information should not be interpreted as proof that prevention is impossible or that a particular outcome is inevitable. Ask what is known for the exact subtype, stage and personal circumstances, and which uncertainties remain.

When to seek emergency help

Severe breathing difficulty, collapse, new stroke-like symptoms, a seizure that is prolonged or repeated without recovery, uncontrolled major bleeding, or an immediate risk of self-harm require emergency help. In India, call 112 or reach the nearest emergency department. This is a general, non-exhaustive warning list; it is not a condition-specific triage tool.