Malnutrition is the result of not eating enough food, eating too much food, eating the wrong type of food or not absorbing the right amount of nutrients to sustain health, according to the World Health Organization. Children are still growing mentally and physically and are at an especially high risk of succumbing to long-term -- and often grave -- consequences of malnutrition.
Marasmus and Kwashiorkor
Inadequate intake of nutrients can result in the clinical conditions marasmus and kwashiorkor. Marasmus, caused by muscle wasting and depleted fat stores, is most often related to inadequate intake of protein and overall calories, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Signs and symptoms include severe weight loss, hair loss, a pinched facial expression, apathy and thin and papery skin. Kwashiorkor is usually caused by a protein deficiency but sometimes includes overall depletion of calories. Signs and symptoms include water retention, a distended belly, liver enlargement, apathy and discolored and brittle hair.
Stunted Development
Malnourished children are at increased risk of having stunted growth, or reduced rate in physical development. Children with stunted growth are likely to experience long-term effects such as short stature and premature death due to organs that aren't fully formed. Malnutrition can also hinder a child's mental development. It may even cause brain damage, particularly in cases of iodine deficiency. Iodine is a chemical element that is crucial for proper physical development but it is easily acquired in most parts of the United States through iodized salt. However, iodine deficiency is the world's top cause of preventable brain damage and mental retardation, according to the University of Michigan Health System.
Obesity
Although malnutrition is commonly associated with a lack of food, it also relates to overconsumption of less healthy foods. Populations in developed countries, and in countries that have a large middle class, often indulge in diets that emphasize calorie-dense and processed foods. These foods contain few micronutrients considering how many calories they contain. Children who consistently eat more calories than they burn through activity are at risk of gaining weight, becoming obese and eventually developing obesity-related health conditions such as breathing troubles, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer. About 16 to 33 percent of children and teens in the United States are obese, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Death
Malnourished children have weakened immune systems and are exposed to a higher risk of dying from illnesses such as diarrhea, malaria and respiratory infections. Chronic malnutrition can also lead to serious health consequences, including kidney damage and heart disease, which increase a child's risk of dying prematurely. A child dies every six seconds due to malnutrition and related causes, according to KidsHealth from Nemours.
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