What Is Malnutrition?
Malnutrition is a condition that results from nutrient deficiency or overconsumption and can cause serious health issues. There are two types of malnutrition, they include:
- Undernutrition: This type of malnutrition is as a result of not getting enough essential nutrients for the body, such as protein, calories or micronutrients. Undernutrition leads to low weight-for-height (wasting), height-for-age (stunting) and weight-for-age (underweight).
- Overnutrition: Overconsumption of certain nutrients, such as protein, calories or fat, can also lead to malnutrition. It causes imbalance in the body which results in being overweight or obesity.
People who are undernourished often have deficiency in certain essential nutrients, like vitamins and minerals, especially iron, zinc, vitamin A and iodine. However, micronutrient deficiencies can also occur with overnutrition. You can be overweight and obese from excessive calorie consumption but still not get enough vitamins and minerals at the same time. That’s because foods that contribute to overnutrition, such as fried and sugary foods, tend to be high in calories and fat but low in other nutrients.