Malnutrition is the condition that occurs when a person’s body is not getting enough nutrients the body requires. The condition may result from an inadequate or unbalanced diet, diet, digestive difficulties, absorption problems, or other medical conditions. An individual will experience malnutrition if the appropriate amount of, or quantity of nutrients that makes a healthy diet are not consumed for an extended period of time. This may lead to starvation, disease, and infection. Also, disease that results from the inadequate intake of nutrients are called deficiency disease. Deficiency disease are diseases that result from malnutrition. Some examples of deficiency disease includes; rickets, scurvy, pellagra, anaemia, night blindness, prolonged bleeding, goitre and many more.
Causes of Malnutrition.
1. Eating a diet that lacks nutrients. Some of these nutrients are Proteins, Vitamin, Carbohydrates, Mineral salts and many more.
2. Eating a balanced diet but one or more nutrients are not digested or absorbed properly, for example due to diarrhoea or other illness that affects the digestive organs.
Symptoms of Malnutrition.
1. Dizziness
2. Wight loss
3. General body weakness
4. Fatigue
5. Decreased immune response
Effects of Malnutrition.
1. Stunted growth
2. Reduced intelligence
3. Poor brain formation
4. Underweight
5. Decreased attention
6. Easy attack of diseases
Prevention Of Malnutrition
1. Eat a balanced diet: A balanced diet diet is a meal that contains adequate amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, mineral salt, water and dietary fibre, which provides the body’s daily requirements and materials for growth and repair. The proportion of different food in a balanced diet should be as follows: 55% carbohydrates, 15% fats and oil, 20% proteins, and 10% water, vitamins and mineral salts.
2. Early treatment for any disorder of the digestive system: We should visit the hospital early when we find and symptom of disorder of any digestive organ. This would help in the digestion of all nutrients fast and secure.
3. Improved water supply, sanitation and hygiene: We should practice personal hygiene and food hygiene. Also we should avoid the intake of unclean water.
4. Health education for a healthy diet: The public should be educated on the need to take in healthy diet. These teaching and education can take place at schools, on the media, at religious organization and many more.
Some Deficiency Disease And Their Causes
l Rickets ( Lack of Vitamin D)
l Scurvy (Lack of Vitamin C)
l Pellagra (Lack of Vitamin B3)
l Anaemia (Lack of Vitamin B12)
l Night blindness( Lack of Vitamin A)
l Prolonged bleeding (Lack of Vitamin K)
l Goitre( Lack of iodine)
l Kwashiokor( Lack of protein)
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