Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Risks of Malnutrition


Fri 25 Jan 2019 | 05:30 PM
Hassan El-Khawaga

By Dr. Magdy Badran

CAIRO, Jan. 25 (SEE) - Malnutrition is a major cause of child morbidity and mortality. Globally, Poor nutrition plays a role in at least half of the 10.9 million child deaths each year.

Children who are malnourished are at risk to die from common childhood ailments, like diarrhea and respiratory illnesses. Adults who were malnourished as children earn at least 20% less on average than those who weren’t.

Severe malnutrition can result in many disease-related consequences, and effects on morbidity, mortality, and disability all contribute to increased healthcare costs.

Malnutrition is more than just a lack of food; it’s a lack of nutrients. It refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients.

The term malnutrition covers two broad groups of conditions. One is ‘undernutrition’—which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age)and micronutrient deficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals).

Undernutrition is a major underlying cause of illness and disease, and one that contributes to additional healthcare spending. Undernutrition affects cognitive development and intellectual capacity; factors that contribute to poor educational performance.

Nutrition-related health problems can contribute to days missed from school and reduced school attendance. Disruption in education is a factor that contributes to the spiraling “cycle of poverty,” as it leads to restricted income-earning potential.

The other group of undernutrition is related to overweight, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer).

Poverty and malnutrition have a direct link – poverty is the main and principal cause of malnutrition. Conversely, hunger contributes to poverty, creating a vicious cycle. Poor mothers who lack access to proper nutrients bear malnourished children.

In addition to poverty, the other main causes of malnutrition are harmful economic systems, war and conflict, and climate change. The countries with the highest rates of malnutrition also have the lowest economic indicators.

The causes which can lead to malnutrition in children include poor diet, loss of appetite, consuming food at an improper time and irregular intervals, indigestion, maldigestion, lack of breastfeeding, chronic diseases, lack of physical activity and lack of adequate medical care.

Other causes for malnutrition in children under five years include premature birth, excessive vomiting or diarrhea, heart defects from birth and other long term diseases.

Signs and symptoms of malnutrition in infants and children include tiredness and fatigue, irritability, poor immune system ,increasing susceptibility of infections, dry and scaly skin, poor, stunted growth, bloated stomach, longer recovery time from wounds, infections and illness ,reduced muscle mass, slow behavioural and intellectual development, impairment in mental function and digestive problems.

There are 4 broad sub-forms of undernutrition: wasting, stunting, underweight, and deficiencies in vitamins and minerals.

Low weight-for-height is known as wasting. It usually indicates recent and severe weight loss, because a person has not had enough food to eat and/or they have had an infectious disease, such as diarrhea, which has caused them to lose weight. A young child who is moderately or severely wasted has an increased risk of death, but treatment is possible.

Low height-for-age is known as stunting. It is the result of chronic or recurrent undernutrition, usually associated with poor socioeconomic conditions, poor maternal health and nutrition, frequent illness, and/or inappropriate infant and young child feeding and care in early life.

25% of the world’s children are stunted; in developing countries, this is as high as 33%. Infant undernutrition has been associated with shorter adult stature, less schooling achieved, lower adult income, and for women, a higher chance of also giving birth to an underweight baby.

Children with low weight-for-age are known as underweight. A child who is underweight may be stunted, wasted, or both.

Iron, iodine and vitamin A are the most important in global public health terms; their deficiency represents a major threat to the health and development of populations worldwide, particularly children and pregnant women in low-income countries.

Half of the anemia cases are due to iron deficiency. Almost half of the children in low- and middle-income countries are affected by anemia, impairing cognitive and physical development.

Children suffering from hunger can develop brain damage. This is due in part to iron deficiency. Iodine deficiency is the greatest single cause of mental retardation and brain damage. It can easily be prevented by adding iodine to salt.

Vitamin A deficiency causes early childhood blindness and increases the severity of infections and anemia. It affects an estimated 190 million pre-school aged children, and 19 million pregnant and breastfeeding women globally.

Zinc deficiency affects children’s health and physical growth; it is also essential for mothers during pregnancy. It is estimated to cause 4% of deaths in pre-school aged children in lower-income countries. Zinc supplementation improves growth in stunted children and can be included in wheat flour, maize flour or rice.

Best sources of iron are shellfish, spinach, liver, legumes, red meat, pumpkin seeds, and broccoli. Best sources of vitamin A are sweet potato, carrot, beef liver, spinach, apricots, broccoli, and egg yolks. Best sources of zinc are meat, shellfish, legumes, seeds, nuts, milk and cheese, eggs, whole grains, and dark chocolate.

Early intervention is crucial. It is important to have a balanced diet in order to maintain sufficient nutrient levels in the body.

Malnutrition can begin as early as conception. If a mother does not receive proper nutrition during pregnancy, her child will already be at risk of developmental problems. Children have a two-year period, beginning at conception and continuing into infancy, known as the “window of opportunity.” During this time, a child can be guarded against the most devastating effects of malnutrition.