Causes & Effects
Worldwide poverty and lack of food are the primary reasons why malnutrition occurs. Families of low-income households do not always have enough healthy food to eat. When there is a household food shortage, children are the most vulnerable to malnutrition because of their high energy needs.
Famine has been found to be among the most common reasons behind the initiation of malnutrition among a particular group of people in a particular region. Famine leads specifically to a severe lack of requisite amounts of vitamins, protein, and essential minerals in the broad population’s diet. Medical problems occurring as the result of malnutrition are called deficiency diseases.
Symptoms of malnutrition vary, depending on what nutrients are deficient in the body. Unintentionally losing weight may be a sign of malnutrition. Children who are malnourished may be skinny or bloated and may be short for their age (stunted). Their skin is pale, thick, dry, and easily bruised. Rashes and changes in pigmentation are common.
Hair is thin, tightly curled, and easily pulled out. Joints ache and bones are soft and tender. The gums bleed. The tongue may be swollen, or shriveled and cracked. Visual disturbances include night blindness and increased sensitivity to light and glare.
Other symptoms of malnutrition include:
| • |
Fatigue |
| • |
Dizziness |
| • |
Anemia |
| • |
Diarrhea |
| • |
Disorientation |
| • |
Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland) |
| • |
Loss of reflexes and lack of coordination |
| • |
Muscle twitches |
| • |
Decreased immune response |
| • |
Scaling and cracking of the lips and mouth |
Children who are overnourished are visibly overweight or obese, and consume more food than their bodies need (or expend too little energy through physical activity).
Complications
Poorly nourished children often have weakened immune systems, thus increasing their chances of illness. Underweight, malnourished teenagers (such as those with an eating disorder) have an increased risk of osteoporosis and may not have menstrual periods. They may have heart and other organ problems with severe malnutrition. Malnutrition, if left untreated, can lead to physical or mental disability, or even death.
Children who are overweight have an increased risk for long-term conditions and diseases, including cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, and certain cancers. Health consequences range from a higher risk of premature death to chronic conditions that reduce a person's quality of life.
| DEFICIENCY DISEASES CAUSED DUE TO MALNUTRITION |
| Nutrients |
Deficiency |
Excess |
| Energy |
Starvation, Marasmus |
Obesity, Diabetes mellitus, Cardiovascular disease |
| Simple carbohydrates |
None |
Diabetes mellitus, Obesity |
| Complex carbohydrates |
None |
Obesity |
| Saturated fat |
Low sex hormone levels |
Cardiovascular disease (claimed by most doctors and nutritionists) |
| Trans fat |
None |
Cardiovascular disease |
| Unsaturated fat |
None |
Obesity |
| Fat |
Malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins, Rabbit starvation (if protein intake is high) |
Cardiovascular disease (claimed by some) |
| Omega 3 fats |
Cardiovascular disease |
Bleeding, Hemorrhages |
| Omega 6 fats |
None |
Cardiovascular disease, Cancer |
| Cholesterol |
None |
Cardiovascular disease (claimed by many) |
| Protein |
Kwashiorkor, Marasmus |
Rabbit starvation |
| Sodium |
Hyponatremia |
Hypernatremia, Hypertension |
| Iron |
Anemia |
Cirrhosis, Heart disease |
| Iodine |
Goiter, Hypothyroidism |
Iodine toxicity (goiter, hypothyroidism) |
| Vitamin A |
Xerophthalmia and night blindness, Low testosterone levels |
Hypervitaminosis A (cirrhosis, hair loss) |
| Vitamin B1 |
Beri-beri |
|
| Vitamin B2 |
Cracking of skin and Corneal Unclearation |
|
| Niacin |
Pellagra |
Dyspepsia, Cardiac arrhythmias, Birth defects |
| Vitamin B12 |
Pernicious anemia |
|
| Vitamin C |
Scurvy |
Diarrhea causing dehydration |
| Vitamin D |
Rickets |
Hypervitaminosis D (dehydration, vomiting, constipation) |
| Vitamin E |
Nervous disorders |
Hypervitaminosis E (anticoagulant: excessive bleeding) |
| Vitamin K |
Hemorrhage |
|
| Calcium |
Osteoporosis, tetany, carpopedal spasm, laryngospasm, cardiac arrhythmias |
Fatigue, Depression, Confusion, Anorexia, Nausea, Vomiting, Constipation, Pancreatitis, Increased urination |
| Magnesium |
Hypertension |
Weakness, Nausea, Vomiting, Impaired breathing, and Hypotension |
| Potassium |
Hypokalemia, Cardiac arrhythmias |
Hyperkalemia, Palpitations |
