Malnutrition

Common Forms of Malnutrition

Protein-energy malnutrition is the combined failure to provide enough calories and is considered to be the most widespread form of malnutrition. Individuals who exist on a diet consisting of grains might be at risk for protein deficiency. Poorer segments of the population may be at risk for protein deficiencies because of the relative inability to obtain nongrain ingredients, which are typically more expensive.

When diets do not have enough protein and calories, individuals may adjust by altering their energy outputs. This will often have implications for energy expenditure for adults during paid employment as well as in other activities. A worker who is malnourished will not be able to work longer shifts and will need more breaks during work, which can contribute adversely to work performance and job retention. Children may alter their behaviors in important contexts such as the classroom and with peers. Children may be unable to concentrate on learning activities and behave aggressively and be withdrawn. Another issue regarding too few calories and proteins is weight loss and stunted growth among children.

When energy expenditure outstrips calorie supplementation, a body can react by metabolizing reserves of, first, stored body fat, then muscle, and even organ tissue. Weight loss accompanies this process but is eventually followed by a medical condition called wasting. Death is the ultimate outcome of this process, but often hunger-related deaths are due to opportunistic infectious diseases. Malnutrition and infection are mutually reinforcing, as disease leads to deterioration in nutrition and malnutrition leads to susceptibility to diseases. Some estimates of children in developing countries suggest that malnutrition contributed to approximately half of all child deaths because of the role of infectious diseases.

Lack of protein and calories is not the only reason for malnutrition; an individual can receive enough calories but lack high enough levels of micronutrients such that medical problems arise. The most common form of malnutrition due to the lack of micronutrients is deficiencies in iron, iodine, and vitamin A.

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