MALNUTRITION

Myths, Effects, Symptoms, Diseases and Prevention

By - Prince Saini
Rainbow English School, Janakpuri
 What is Malnutrition?
Malnutrition is referred to as a medical
condition when a person’s diet is deprived of
certain vital nutrients. This condition cannot
be simply just referred to as deficiency of
nutrients in diet but it expands its meaning to
the situation which also entails conditions
where diet does not contain the right balance
of nutrients. Children, elderly and women are
more vulnerable to malnutrition.
 Misconceptions about Malnutrition
In general terms, malnutrition is associated
hugely with “thin and skinny body” or
“getting less food” but this misconception is
dangerous for the well being of people as
they tend to ignore the actual symptoms of
malnutrition. Being malnourished entails
getting less nutrition ,even if you have
enough to eat. People may have a huge diet
but due to high calories and deficiency of
certain vital nutrients, they tend to become
obese and severly malnourished.
 What Malnutrition really is?
Malnutrition can be defined as the imbalance of certain vital
nutrients in the body that somewhat hinder the internal
organisation of the body. If we expand this definition a bit, we
could say that any person whose diet is deficient of nutritional
calories can be considered as malnourished. Malnutrition is not
associated with the quantity of food. So, a healthy person should
have wholesome diet which should be enough for that person and
at the same time, has sufficient nutritional and calorific value.
 Effects of Malnutrition
Ta l k i n g a b o u t t h e c l i n i c a l e f f e c t s o f
malnutrition, one can observe decreased
immunity and cardiac output, hypothermia and
anorexia. Physical effects are more prominent
and discernible than the clinical ones. Growth
and development of the child might get dismal.
Strength, lethargy, ability to cough, fat and
m u s c l e t i s s u e s g e t r e d u c e d a b r u p t l y.
Psychological effects appends apathy and
depression
 Symptoms of Malnutrition
Many people argue that symptoms of
malnutrition are not such discernible at early
stages in growing children but that’s not the
case. Malnourished children show symptoms
such as weight loss, lack of appetite and water-
electrolyte imbalance. Developmental
symptoms tend to be more discernible as short
stature and drastic weight loss can be observed
anyhow. There could be slow behavioral and
intellectual development, possibly resulting in
learning difficulties.
Diseases and aliments caused by Malnutrition
1) Kwashiorkor is a form of severe
protein malnutrition. It is characterised by
the following symptoms: dropsy, fatty and
enlarged liver.

2) Marasmus is another form of protein

malnutrition that usually occurs in children
between the age of 18 to 48 months. This
disease is discerned by energy deficiency,
reduced body weight, fluid buildup in the
body parts and, subsequently, water retention.
3) Anaemia can be defined as a decrease in
haemoglobin count and RBCs count due to
deficiency of iron in blood. Symptoms of
iron deficiency include feeling tired, weak,
short of breath and confusion.
4) Rickets is marked by weak or soft bones,
bowed legs, stunted growth , bone pain and
large forehead.Vitamin D, little exposure to
sunlight and genetic passages are the major
causes of rickets
5) Beriberi is caused by deficiency of
Thiamine, or Vitamin B1 which is responsible
for proper involuntary functions of the
cardiovascular and nervous muscles.
 Numbers say it all !

A little over one-third of the children in India are stunted by malnutrition. India has
seen a quantum rise of about 50% in GDP since 2013, but still accounts for a large
proportion of malnourished children and women. In India, children belonging to
economically weaker section face social inequalities and do not get enough nutritional
food. 146 million children in the country are suffering from malnutrition and getting
their growth stunted along with, eye issues, heart diseases and diabetes.
 How could it be prevented?
Malnutrition is a root cause of many diseases and disorders. Thus, preventive
measures should be adopted. Some of them are:
1) Eating a well balanced and nutrient rich diet with sufficient amount of
certain nutrients and other micro nutrients.
2) Consuming foods which are sufficient in certain nutrients such as, protein,
fats and carbohydrates. Over consumption of these nutrients should also be
avoided.
3) Nutritional supplementation, whenever necessary or prescribed by the doctor
should be taken.
4) An awareness programme should be initiated to make people aware of the
importance of nutritional foods and a wholesome, balanced and nutrient- rich
diet.
What is our role in preventing it as students?
We as students can initiate awareness programme for preventing
malnutrition. our moral duty is to make uneducated people aware
about the adverse effects of malnutrition. Organisations such as Ladli
Foundation, have been campaigning to eradicate malnutrition. Being
part of literate population, we should contribute in educating people
around us about Malnutrition, as it is the need of the hour. As the old
saying goes, rebellion begins at home first, we should firstly ensure
that we are neither undernourished nor overnourished, rather our BMI
(Body Mass Index) should be normal.
Things my parents learnt and their thoughts
My father is a government employee while my mother is a homemaker but she
has served in a daycare as well. My mother helped me a lot in gathering the facts.
When I showed my presentation to my parents, they got to know some unknown
facts about malnutrition. Like others, my parents too had this misconception that
being malnourished only means being “skinny” and ‘not getting enough food to
eat”. They got to know the importance and vitality of the nutrients in a balanced
diet. My father recalled his childhood days and found that during that time,
people, due to poverty, could not afford a nutritional and wholesome food diet
and a large section of children was malnourished.
They found this initiative by the “Ladli Foundation” and “Directorate of
Education” an unparalleled one. They promised to tell more people about
malnutrition, its effects, symptoms and prevention.