Body mass index, or BMI, isn't commonly used to indicate malnutrition since simply being underweight doesn't automatically signify a nutritional deficiency. Other symptoms of this medical condition, as well as blood tests, are usually relied on to arrive at such a diagnosis. This doesn't mean that a low BMI can't raise a red flag to a health care provider, or even a family member, that someone is suffering from malnutrition.
Malnutrition
The National Institutes of Health characterize malnutrition as a condition brought on by a nutritional deficiency. Individuals can suffer from malnutrition as a result of a variety of different factors. Not only can starvation, or not eating enough food, cause malnutrition, but it's also possible to experience this level of nutritional deficiency from digestive disorders and medical conditions, such as alcoholism or depression. Some people are even diagnosed with malnutrition due to certain vitamin deficiencies, such as vitamins A, B6, B9, E and K, as well as thiamine and riboflavin, two additional B-vitamins.
Body Mass Index
According to the Mayo Clinic, body mass index, or BMI, is an approximation of your current body fat based on your height and weight. For the most part, it's used to establish whether or not someone is overweight or obese, for which the index numbers are 25 to 29.9 or 30 and higher, respectively. However, it may also be used to help indicate malnutrition. That being said, an abnormally low BMI doesn't necessarily confirm that someone is suffering from malnutrition.
Features
A potential indication of malnutrition in reference to body mass index is between 16.5 and 18.4, which denotes underweight, or any number below 16.5, which designates an individual as severely underweight. As mentioned before, a BMI within any of these ranges is only an indication of malnutrition. Other tests are needed to establish a proper diagnosis. The National Institutes of Health states that blood work coupled with nutritional appraisal is necessary to determine malnutrition.
BMI Equation
To determine someone's BMI, the National Institutes of Health recommends multiplying weight in pounds by 703. Divide this number by the individual's height in inches, and then divide it again by the individual's height in inches. If someone is 150 lbs. at a height of 5 ft. 10 in. tall, his body mass index is 21.5, which is considered normal.
Symptoms
A loss in weight is far from the only symptom someone manifests as a result of malnutrition. It isn't uncommon for this level of nutritional deficiency to cause fatigue and dizziness, according to the National Institutes of Health. The Mayo Clinic takes this one step further, adding anemia, muscle weakness, digestive distress, breathing problems and heart problems to the list of malnutrition's symptoms. It's also possible to experience a change in skin tone when suffering from this condition.
Treatment
Dietary changes are often the first line of defense against malnutrition, according to both the Mayo Clinic and the National Institutes of Health, but it may also be necessary to supplement the diet with those vitamins lacking in the diet. Other treatments are based on the condition that is causing malnutrition, so a doctor may need to prescribe a medication, medical procedure or treatment plan to remedy the underlying cause as well as the nutritional deficiency.
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