Did you know that over half of all deaths of children under the age of five in India are due to malnutrition?
According to the Global Nutrition Report 2018, India has 46.6 million malnourished children, a third of the world's total.
Malnutrition is a significant challenge for any country's economic and social progress. As well as causing cognitive impairment and lower school and work performance, malnutrition during the first 1000 days of a child's life has been linked to stunted growth. When it comes to child malnutrition, several factors like poverty and maternal health illiteracy play a significant role and infections such as diarrhea. Malnutrition is frequently linked to low birth weight, recent diarrhea, and developmental delays in many underdeveloped countries, including India.
Let's learn how to help children who are malnourished.
What Is Malnutrition?
Malnutrition is a result of an unbalanced diet. If a person consumes too much or not enough food or necessary nutrients, they are at risk of becoming obese. A person's body may be deficient in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients if they suffer from malnutrition.
Insufficient food consumption can lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition can occur in persons who eat a lot yet do not vary their diet enough.
The term "malnutrition" refers to a lack of nutrition and can be used to describe a variety of conditions, including-
- Undernutrition - not getting enough nutrients
- overnutrition - consumes more of a nutrient than required.
Malnutrition can result in the following-
- health issues, both short-term and long term
- time-consuming healing of injuries and illnesses
- an increased potential for infection
Deficiencies in some nutrients can lead to a variety of health issues.
For example, deficiency of vitamin A results in many children suffering from visual difficulties around the world. Scurvy can develop from a deficiency of vitamin C.
Overnutrition
Did you know that 1 in 5 reception-age children and 1 in 3 sixth-grade students are obese or morbidly obese?
Another kind of malnutrition is overeating. If a person consumes more nutrients than they require, this can happen. When you overeat food, you may gain weight or become obese because of the excess calories.
There are numerous adverse health effects associated with excessive dietary intake.
Obese people are more likely to suffer from the following conditions-
- a history of diabetes, cancer, and high cholesterol
- coronary heart disease
- high blood pressure (BP)
Risk factors
People in various regions of the world can suffer from long-term malnutrition due to food shortages.
Major risk factors of malnutrition such as-
- sufferers of malabsorption problems
- People with eating problems like bulimia or anorexia
- socially isolated persons
Social Issues risk factors such as-
- Hospitalized or long-term care elder people
- Low-income persons with a severe disease
Causes
For malnutrition to occur, the body needs to absorb nutrients effectively. A variety of factors can cause malnutrition. These probable causes are -
- Low-calorie consumption
- Lack of food or difficulties consuming or absorbing nutrients
In some cases, this can result from the following-
- cancer
- Having liver disease
- Nausea or difficulty eating or swallowing
- Malnutrition can also be caused by medications that make eating difficult, such as nausea.
- Mouth related difficulties, such as improperly fitting dentures, can also cause malnutrition.
Conditions relating to one's mental well-being. People who are underweight or malnourished can suffer from the following-
- anorexia nervosa
- dementia
- depression
- schizophrenia
Problems with social and mobility issues. Malnutrition can occur as a result of a person's eating habits being affected by factors such as-
- a lack of experience in the kitchen
- Being unable to make meals alone can impact a person's drive to cook and eat
- Diseases of the digestive tract and the stomach
- having too little money to buy food
- lack of mobility or access to a grocery store
Some problems of the digestive and stomach system that could cause this include-
- celiac disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Chronic diarrhea, vomiting, or both
- ulcerative colitis
Symptoms
When someone is malnourished, they may exhibit the following signs and symptoms-
- an inability or unwillingness to eat or drink
- constantly feeling cold
- depression
- Gradually, a patient may develop heart failure
- irritation and exhaustion
- lack of focus or ability to focus
- loss of body fat, muscle, and tissue
- more likely to get sick and take longer to recover
- weight reduction
- Wounds take longer to heal
Adults vs. children: Symptoms
Symptoms of malnutrition in children can differ from those in adults.
There is a possibility that-
- Anxiety and irritation
- delayed behavioral and cognitive development, possibly leading to learning difficulties
- fatigue and a lack of energy
- insufficient growth and weight
There are therapeutic options available. However, malnutrition can sometimes have long-term consequences.
When should you see a doctor?
A doctor's attention is required if a patient exhibits any malnutrition symptoms. The following are examples of these warning signs:
- Unintentional weight reduction of more than 5% in the last 3–6 months
- a fear that someone else is malnourished if oneself or someone else shows indicators of an eating disorder.
Similarly, a person should advise a loved one to visit a doctor if they exhibit signs of malnutrition. Some individuals might not notice the signs in themselves, but their loved ones might be able to.
Treatment
The severity of your malnutrition and your general health will determine your child’s best. The severity of your malnutrition and your general health will determine your child’s best course of treatment.
The first dietary recommendation is generally-
- Get your calories and protein from "fortified" foods.
- snack in between meals
- extra nutrients in the form of nutritional drinks or supplements
- Consuming drinks that are high in calories
Supplements may be necessary for those who cannot eat enough food to meet their dietary needs in children.
- nutritional supplementation through a feeding tube
- feeding a patient through a drip of nutrients and fluids
Overall, changes in diet are the primary treatment for malnutrition. Increasing your food's nutritional value, with or without nutritional supplements may be necessary if you are malnourished.
Prevention
The best way to avoid malnutrition is to eat a nutritious diet.
Maintaining good health and physical fitness requires a well-balanced diet. You must consume a wide range of foods from all four major food groups to maintain good health, including the following-
- a healthy diet rich in fruits and veggies
- a large number of starchy carbohydrates, such as bread, rice, potatoes, and porridge.
- Dairy and milk products
- some non-dairy sources of protein, such as meat, fish, eggs, beans, and nuts
All children require the calories and nutrients provided by a varied and well-balanced diet.
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