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Does malnutrition make you skinny?

Malnutrition can result in unplanned weight loss, a low body mass index (BMI) and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This can leave you feeling tired, weak and affect your ability to recover from an illness.

nhsinform.scot - Malnutrition - NHS inform

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Malnutrition means "poor nutrition" which can be caused by undernutrition or overnutrition.

The term is most commonly used to describe undernutrition, which is the focus here. Please see obesity for more information about overnutrition. A balanced diet should provide enough nutrients such as calories, protein and vitamins, to keep you healthy. Without this, you may not be getting all the nutrients you need and this can lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition can result in unplanned weight loss, a low body mass index (BMI) and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This can leave you feeling tired, weak and affect your ability to recover from an illness.

In the UK, evidence suggests that:

29% of people admitted to hospital are malnourished

35% of people admitted to care homes are malnourished

12% of people aged 65 and over, living at home in the community are malnourished

Conditions that can cause malnutrition

Certain medical conditions can cause increased requirements or lead to your body being unable to absorb or use nutrients properly. These may include: cancer and liver disease that can cause a lack of appetite, persistent pain or nausea COPD, pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema, which can increase your calorie requirements and reduce your appetite mental health illness, such as depression or schizophrenia, which may affect your ability to look after yourself Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or cystic fibrosis that disrupt your body’s ability to digest food or absorb nutrients

burns, fractures and post major surgery, due to increased demand for nutrients

dementia – people with dementia may be unable to communicate their needs when it comes to eating, may use up a lot of calories pacing or may experience a loss of appetite dysphagia – a condition that makes swallowing difficult or painful and can mean that only certain consistencies of foods and drinks (known as International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative levels) can be taken

persistent vomiting or diarrhoea

Sometimes taking multiple medications or certain types of medication may also increase your risk of developing malnutrition. Always check your medicines information and speak to your prescriber for advice if you have a concern. Do not stop taking your medication without advice from a health care professional.

Other causes of malnutrition

Malnutrition can also be caused by physical issues, social issues and ageing.

Physical issues

Physical issues can also contribute to malnutrition. For example:

if your teeth are in a poor condition, if your dentures do not fit properly, or if you have a sore mouth, eating can be difficult or painful you may lose your appetite as a result of losing your sense of smell and taste you may have a physical disability or other impairment that makes it difficult for you to cook or shop for food yourself.

Social factors

Social issues that can contribute to malnutrition include:

living alone and being socially isolated

having limited knowledge about nutrition or cooking

reduced mobility

alcohol or drug use

low income or poverty

reliance on food banks

Ageing

Older adults are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition because of physical, psychological and social factors, and because the risk of having one or more medical conditions is higher.

Signs and Symptoms of Malnutrition

Malnutrition can be difficult to recognise and can happen very gradually, which can make it very difficult to spot in the early stages.

Common signs and symptoms to watch out for include:

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What age is most affected by malnutrition?

Women, infants, children and adolescents are at the highest risk of malnutrition. Optimizing nutrition early in life – including the 1000 days from conception to a child's second birthday – ensures the best possible start in life, with long-term benefits.

who.int - Malnutrition - World Health Organization (WHO)

Malnutrition refers to deficiencies or excesses in nutrient intake, imbalance of essential nutrients or impaired nutrient utilization. The double burden of malnutrition consists of both undernutrition and overweight and obesity, as well as diet-related noncommunicable diseases. Undernutrition manifests in four broad forms: wasting, stunting, underweight, and micronutrient deficiencies. Wasting is defined as low weight-for-height. It often indicates recent and severe weight loss, although it can also persist for a long time. It usually occurs when a person has not had food of adequate quality and quantity and/or they have had frequent or prolonged illnesses. Wasting in children is associated with a higher risk of death if not treated properly. Stunting is defined as low height-for-age. It is the result of chronic or recurrent undernutrition, usually associated with poverty, poor maternal health and nutrition, frequent illness and/or inappropriate feeding and care in early life. Stunting prevents children from reaching their physical and cognitive potential. Underweight is defined as low weight-for-age. A child who is underweight may be stunted, wasted or both. Micronutrient deficiencies are a lack of vitamins and minerals that are essential for body functions such as producing enzymes, hormones and other substances needed for growth and development.

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