Long-Term Effects
Proper balanced diet is important for the body to avoid several long-term effects of malnutrition like development of diseases and chronic health conditions. Long-term effects of undernutrition include a higher risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
One study in 50 adolescents in Brazil found that boys who had stunted growth as a result of undernutrition early in life gained 5% more fat mass over three years compared to their peers who did not have stunting. Additional research found that 21% of adolescents with stunted growth in Brazil had high blood pressure compared to less than 10% of adolescents without stunting.
Researchers suspect that childhood undernutrition causes changes in metabolism that may lead to a higher likelihood of developing chronic diseases later in life.
Overnutrition can also contribute to the development of certain health issues. Most commonly, overweight or obese children have a higher chance of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. A study in over 369,000 children found that those who were obese were more than four times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to their peers who had a normal BMI.
To avoid long-term effects of malnutrition, it is best that you pay attention to your diet and ensure it is balanced. Prevention and treating malnutrition can help reduce the prevalence of chronic health conditions.