Chronic Malnutrition Definition

Malnutrition refers to deficiencies excesses or imbalances in a person s intake of energy and or nutrients.

Chronic malnutrition definition. Malnutrition occurs in people who are either undernourished or overnourished. Malnutrition is a condition that results from eating a diet in which one or more nutrients are either not enough or are too much such that the diet causes health problems. Undernutrition which includes wasting low weight for height stunting low height for age and underweight low weight for age. Adapted from soeters pb schols am.

B chronic malnutrition also called stunting this is a condition that develops when children do not eat the correct balance of nutrients in the first 1 000 days of life from conception to the age of two resulting in the irreversible stunting of their cognitive and physical development. Undernutrition is a consequence of consuming too few essential nutrients or using or excreting them more rapidly than they can be replaced. Causes of malnutrition include inappropriate dietary choices a. Malnutrition refers to when a person s diet does not provide enough nutrients or the right balance of nutrients for optimal health.

The term malnutrition addresses 3 broad groups of conditions. Malnutrition physical condition resulting either from a faulty or inadequate diet i e a diet that does not supply normal quantities of all nutrients or from a physical inability to absorb or metabolize nutrients. Chronic malnutrition is persistent lack of access to necessary vitamins and minerals in early childhood leading to health problems later in life even if the patient later receives adequate nutrition. Malnutrition refers to getting too little or too much of certain nutrients.

Acute malnutrition is a form of under nutrition caused by a decrease in food consumption and or illness that results in sudden weight loss or oedema fluid retention. Between the ages of eight and 20 months children are especially vulnerable and can develop chronic malnutrition if their dietary needs are not met. Micronutrient related malnutrition which includes micronutrient deficiencies a lack of important vitamins and minerals or micronutrient excess. Malnutrition manifests itself in the form of micronutrient deficiencies stunting also known as chronic malnutrition and or acute malnutrition.

Infants young children and teenagers need additional nutrients. So do women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Not enough nutrients is called undernutrition or undernourishment while too much is called overnutrition. Advances in understanding and assessing malnutrition soeters pb schols am.