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Undernutrition is sometimes used synonymously with malnutrition, however, malnutrition could mean both undernutrition or overnutrition (causing childhood obesity). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that malnutrition accounts for 54 percent of child mortality worldwide, [ 5 ] which is about 1 million children. [ 2 ]
Studies on malnutrition have the population categorised into different groups including infants, under-five children, children, adolescents, pregnant women, adults and the elderly population. The use of different growth references in different studies leads to variances in the undernutrition prevalence reported in different studies.
UNICEF defines undernutrition "as the outcome of insufficient food intake (hunger) and repeated infectious diseases. Undernutrition includes being underweight for one's age, too short for one's age (stunted growth), dangerously thin (muscle wasting), and deficient in vitamins and minerals (micronutrient malnutrition). [2]
Stunted growth, also known as stunting or linear growth failure, is defined as impaired growth and development manifested by low height-for-age. [1] It is often caused by malnutrition and can occur due to endogenous factors (such as chronic food insecurity) or exogenous factors (such as parasitic infection).
Malnutrition in children is covered by multiple articles: Undernutrition in children; Childhood obesity This page was last edited on 29 ...
Another factor that contributes to malnutrition is conflict. [33] Conflict can lead to uncertainty in resources, which puts them at a higher risk of malnutrition. [33] In addition, the areas in Africa with the highest rates of malnutrition also experience poverty which impact and limit the supply of food and necessary services. [33]
The problem of malnutrition in the elderly is often ignored because it's dismissed as a natural decline associated with aging. Here's how you can help.
Over 35 percent of children under the age of 5 in sub-Saharan Africa show physical signs of malnutrition. [47] Malnutrition, the immune system, and infectious diseases operate in a cyclical manner: infectious diseases have deleterious effects on nutritional status, and nutritional deficiencies can lower the strength of the immune system which ...