No money for healthy food, or any food, can happen even in a relatively wealthy nation like the United States. The homeless often subsist on very little and anyone can fall on hard times, resulting in malnutrition. Eating disorders, alcoholism, drug addiction and diseases such as celiac disease and cystic fibrosis can also result in poor nutrition, as can side effects from cancer treatments. Sometimes poor nutrition is simply a result of lack of knowledge about healthy eating.
Nutrient-Specific Malnutrition
General symptoms of malnutrition are weight loss, fatigue, dizziness and lowered immunity, but you can experience a deficiency in individual nutrients, each of which may have its own symptoms. For example, iron deficiency leads to anemia, symptoms of which can include rapid heartbeat, headache, pale skin and mental confusion. Deficiencies in calcium, vitamin D and other nutrients needed for bone health result in poor bone development in children and low bone density in adults. Symptoms of B-12 deficiency can include peripheral neuropathy and memory loss.
Babies
Undernourished, or failure to thrive, babies may not show interest in their surroundings, avoid eye contact, and be slow to sit up, walk or talk. While babies gain and lose weight during the first year, it is a cause for concern if a baby doesn't gain weight for at least 3 consecutive months. The reason can be parents not feeding the child enough due to lack of knowledge or neglect, but it can be due to diseases such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, liver disease or metabolic disorders. It can also be caused by infections or parasites. Without proper treatment to correct deficiencies, the baby will not develop properly and may die.
Children and Teens
During childhood and adolescence, good nutrition is essential for growth and optimal development. An undernourished child may be smaller than normal, underweight, get sick frequently, tire easily and not perform well in school. An undernourished teen girl may stop having periods. Surprisingly, even overweight and obese children and teens can be undernourished due to lack of one or more needed nutrients. For example, if a child's diet consists primarily of soda, sugary snacks and processed meats to the exclusion of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, the child may be overweight, but malnourished.
Elderly
The elderly are at particular risk for poor nutrition for a variety of reasons, including poverty, decreased sense of taste and smell leading to decreased appetite and problems with shopping for and preparing food. Signs that an elderly person may be malnourished include weakness, weight loss, bruising, increased incidence of infections, fatigue, depression and poor wound healing. If you have elderly relatives or friends you are concerned about, spend time with them during meals. If they live on their own, make sure they are buying, fixing and eating nutritious food. Most nursing homes encourage family and friends to eat with residents in dining halls, giving you the opportunity to observe how well your elder eats. All people tend to think of mealtimes as social times and this doesn't change as a person ages.
Member Comments