What Is Malnutrition?

Answer:
Malnutrition is a generic medical term which

refers to a medical condition that is caused by inadequate diet and nutrition levels in a patient. There are many different nutrition disorders that this term can reference, depending on which nutrients are missing or are in oversupply in the diet.

The World Health Organization (WHO) references hunger as the single largest threat to the world’s public health. In over half of all cases of child mortality, malnutrition is the largest contributor to their deaths. The most common cause of mental impairment is malnutrition in the form of iodine deficiency. It is estimated that this condition reduces the world’s overall IQ by a billion points.

According to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food for 2000 to 2008, Jean Ziegler, death due to malnutrition accounted for 58% of the total mortality in 2006. One out of every twelve people in the world suffers from malnutrition. The WHO estimates that one-third of the world is well fed, one-third is under fed, and one-third is starving.

Underweight births and inter-uterine growth restrictions directly cause 2.2 million deaths every year. Poor or non-existent breast feeding causes another 1.4 million deaths per year. Other vitamin deficiencies cause another 1 million deaths every year. According to the medical journal The Lancet, malnutrition during the first two years of life is irreversible. Malnutrition can also cause other diseases, in addition to being fatal on its own.

Malnutrition also increases the risk of infection and disease. It is a major risk factor in the onset of tuberculosis. Brain function is also impaired. The Lancet also reported that “iodine deficiency is the most common cause of preventable mental impairment worldwide.” Moderate iodine deficiency in pregnant mothers and infants can lower IQ by ten to fifteen points. This not only limits the person, but also, the potential of the nation. Fully 16% of the world’s population has at least a mild goiter which is caused by malnutrition.

Various studies have shown that the nutritional status of adults is greatly affected by the level of nutrition from conception through early childhood. Even if they have proper levels of nutrition from childhood on, their health potential is still limited.