Malnutrition

According to the World Health Organization, Malnutrition refers to the under nutrition, inadequate vitamins, minerals, overweight, obesity resulting in non communicable diseases.

They are broadly categorized into 3 broad groups

1. Under nutrition
2. Micro Nutrient related malnutrition
3. Overweight, obesity

Around 45% of deaths among children under age group of 5 years die with this malnutrition problem.

This majorly occurs in middle and low income countries.

Here are few symptoms of malnutrition—

1. Lack of appetite
2. Irritation and tiredness
3. Inability to focus and concentration
4. Feeling of coldness
5. Loss of fat, muscles mass and body tissues
6. Sickness
7. Longer time to heal any wound
8. Depression
9. Reduced sex drives and fertility problems
10. Thin, dry ,inelastic, pale and cold skin
11. Cheeks appear hollow and eyes are sunken
12. Hairs will get dry, sparse and fall out easily.
13. Respiratory and heart diseases
14. Lack of growth in children (both physically and mentally)
15. Lifelong abnormality

Malnutrition may results from various environmental and medical conditions

1. Low intake of food
2. Low / absent breastfeeding
3. Alcoholism
4. Digestive and stomach disorder
5. Social and mobility problems
6. Mental health problems

Here are few steps by which you can easily diagnose the malnutrition problems

Step 1: Measure the BMI

Step 2: Manage the percentage of unplanned weight loss and get the score

Step 3: Identify the mental and physical conditions with scores

Step 4: Aggregate the scores to obtain the overall risk

Step 5: Use local guideline and prepare a plan for the improvement