MALNUTRITIONMALNUTRITION

WHAT IS WHAT IS MALNUTRITION?MALNUTRITION?

Malnutrition is:Malnutrition is: poor nutrition due to an insufficient, poorly poor nutrition due to an insufficient, poorly

balanced diet, faulty digestion or poor balanced diet, faulty digestion or poor utilization of foods. (This can result in the utilization of foods. (This can result in the inability to absorb foods.)inability to absorb foods.)

Malnutrition is not only Malnutrition is not only insufficientinsufficient intake intake of nutrients. It can occur when an of nutrients. It can occur when an individual is getting individual is getting excessiveexcessive nutrients as nutrients as well.well.

WHAT CAUSES WHAT CAUSES MALNUTRITION?MALNUTRITION?

Human beings need a Human beings need a wide variety of nutrients wide variety of nutrients to supply essential to supply essential energy. Do you know energy. Do you know what nutrients we need?what nutrients we need?

proteinprotein vitamins vitamins mineralsminerals

If any one of these If any one of these nutrients is deficient in a nutrients is deficient in a person's diet, he/she person's diet, he/she may suffer from may suffer from malnutritionmalnutrition

WHAT CAUSES WHAT CAUSES MALNUTRITION?MALNUTRITION?

(continued)(continued)

Malnutrition also occurs when there Malnutrition also occurs when there is an imbalance of energy and protein is an imbalance of energy and protein in an individual’s diet. The body may in an individual’s diet. The body may become unable to absorb the become unable to absorb the nutrients it requires to function nutrients it requires to function properly.properly.

**For example, if a child is suffering from For example, if a child is suffering from energy and protein malnutrition, they will energy and protein malnutrition, they will most likely have deficiencies in iron, most likely have deficiencies in iron, calcium, and other vitamins and minerals.calcium, and other vitamins and minerals.

WHO IS AFFECTED BY WHO IS AFFECTED BY MALNUTRITION?MALNUTRITION?

Individuals who are dependent on others Individuals who are dependent on others for their nourishment. (infants, children, for their nourishment. (infants, children, the elderly, prisoners)the elderly, prisoners)

Mentally disabled or ill because they are Mentally disabled or ill because they are not aware of what to eat.not aware of what to eat.

People who are suffering from People who are suffering from tuberculosis, eating disorders, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, eating disorders, HIV/AIDS, cancer, or who have undergone surgical cancer, or who have undergone surgical procedures are susceptible to procedures are susceptible to interferences with appetite or food uptake interferences with appetite or food uptake which can lead to malnutrition.which can lead to malnutrition.

BUT DO YOU KNOW THE BUT DO YOU KNOW THE NUMBER ONE FACTOR THAT NUMBER ONE FACTOR THAT

CAUSES MALNUTRITION?CAUSES MALNUTRITION?

POVERTY!

POVERTY…POVERTY…

Nearly 3 billion people in the world are living on Nearly 3 billion people in the world are living on less than $1 a day. They have little access to less than $1 a day. They have little access to their basic needs, including adequate nutrition to their basic needs, including adequate nutrition to help their bodies stay in balance. Poverty may help their bodies stay in balance. Poverty may also prevent individuals from accessing also prevent individuals from accessing education, which can lead to misinformation education, which can lead to misinformation about adequate nutrition.about adequate nutrition.

Effects of malnutritionEffects of malnutrition

Nutritional deficiencies can contribute Nutritional deficiencies can contribute to various diseases which can be to various diseases which can be found everywhere, but most often go found everywhere, but most often go without cures/treatment in Less without cures/treatment in Less Developed Countries (LDCs).Developed Countries (LDCs).

Kwashiokor/MarasmusKwashiokor/Marasmus KwashiokorKwashiokor, which means “disease of the , which means “disease of the

displaced child” in the Ga language of Ghana is a displaced child” in the Ga language of Ghana is a protein deficiencyprotein deficiency characterized by inability to gain weight, diarrhea, characterized by inability to gain weight, diarrhea,

lethargy and a swollen belly. lethargy and a swollen belly. can lead to coma as well as death.can lead to coma as well as death.

Similarly, Similarly, MarasmusMarasmus is a disease resulting from is a disease resulting from protein deficiencyprotein deficiency affects children early in life (typically in the 1affects children early in life (typically in the 1stst year) year)

slowing growth, decreasing weight and hindering slowing growth, decreasing weight and hindering proper development.proper development.

Nutrition supplements, rehydration and Nutrition supplements, rehydration and education can cure and prevent these diseases.education can cure and prevent these diseases.

BeriberiBeriberi BeriberiBeriberi - - thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiencythiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency

common in South East Asia where many diets consist common in South East Asia where many diets consist solely of white rice. solely of white rice.

affects the proper functioning of the nervous system as affects the proper functioning of the nervous system as well as the circulatory system and heart.well as the circulatory system and heart.

Pregnant or breast feeding mothers and those who Pregnant or breast feeding mothers and those who are ill with fever may have a heightened are ill with fever may have a heightened dependency on thiamine and may develop a dependency on thiamine and may develop a deficiency.deficiency.

Thiamine is best acquired through foods such as Thiamine is best acquired through foods such as pork, beef and whole grain (unrefined) breads and pork, beef and whole grain (unrefined) breads and grains.grains.

PellagraPellagra PellagraPellagra or “rough skin” - or “rough skin” - niacin (or niacin (or

Tryptophan) deficiencyTryptophan) deficiency often results in the “3 Ds”; diarrhea, dementia often results in the “3 Ds”; diarrhea, dementia

and dermatitis. and dermatitis.

The large scale consumption of corn has The large scale consumption of corn has resulted in many cases of pellagra because resulted in many cases of pellagra because corns nutrients are poorly absorbed in the corns nutrients are poorly absorbed in the body. body.

The best sources of Niacin are broccoli, The best sources of Niacin are broccoli, eggs, dates, beef, salmon, seeds and eggs, dates, beef, salmon, seeds and peanuts.peanuts.

ScurvyScurvy

ScurvyScurvy - due to - due to Vitamin C deficiencyVitamin C deficiency characterized by bleeding around hair characterized by bleeding around hair

follicles, anemia and gingivitis. follicles, anemia and gingivitis. May occur in those who consume large May occur in those who consume large

amounts of junk foods, smokers amounts of junk foods, smokers (smoking depletes Vitamin C) and those (smoking depletes Vitamin C) and those who don’t have proper access to who don’t have proper access to sources of vitamin C. (Namely, the poor)sources of vitamin C. (Namely, the poor)

RicketsRickets

Rickets - Rickets - due todue to Vitamin D deficiencies Vitamin D deficiencies May result in a lack of proper calcium May result in a lack of proper calcium

characterized by poorly developed and characterized by poorly developed and deformed bones. deformed bones.

Vitamin D can be best found in beef Vitamin D can be best found in beef products (especially cows milk) but is very products (especially cows milk) but is very low in breast milk. low in breast milk. Thus, women in developing countries are Thus, women in developing countries are

unknowingly contributing to this disease if their unknowingly contributing to this disease if their babies sole source of nourishment is breast babies sole source of nourishment is breast milk.milk.

Food Distribution Food Distribution ProblemsProblems

WarWar

Famine often follows warFamine often follows war Not able to plant crops – too dangerousNot able to plant crops – too dangerous Relief resources only available during Relief resources only available during

ceasefiresceasefires Sometimes the resources are taken by the Sometimes the resources are taken by the

government or military powers to feed the government or military powers to feed the soldiers rather than the civilianssoldiers rather than the civilians

DebtDebt

Many countries owe the IMF or World Bank and Many countries owe the IMF or World Bank and therefore sanctions are imposed on their countriestherefore sanctions are imposed on their countries

Forced to grow “cash crops” – coffee, cotton, tea, Forced to grow “cash crops” – coffee, cotton, tea, sugar cane, peanutssugar cane, peanuts

Less land for essential food crops Less land for essential food crops Means cutting spending on health, education, and Means cutting spending on health, education, and

housing leading to greater poverty and the cycle housing leading to greater poverty and the cycle continuescontinues

TechnologyTechnology

Green RevolutionGreen Revolution Super seeds require more water, fertilizer and Super seeds require more water, fertilizer and

pesticidespesticides Poor countries can’t afford to grow foodPoor countries can’t afford to grow food Contaminates waterContaminates water Genetically modified foodsGenetically modified foods

Natural CausesNatural Causes

Not as large a factor as the 3 mentioned aboveNot as large a factor as the 3 mentioned above DroughtDrought Poor soil qualityPoor soil quality FloodingFlooding ClimateClimate