The last time I checked, malnutrition was fully and obviously here with us and till date, remains a monster that needs to be combated fiercely without any fear or favour.
Malnutrition can be defined as a physical weakness caused by not eating enough food of the right kind. It can also be described as a situation involving the state at which the human body lacks the required food components known as ‘balanced diet’.
Malnutrition, which is a serious condition that occurs when a person’s diet doesn’t contain the right amount of nutrients, simply means poor nutrition, and can be referred to as ‘under-nutrition’ when the carrier does not possess enough nutrients or ‘over-nutrition’ when the sufferer has more nutrients than he or she requires.
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Malnutrition, which could be in the form of kwashiorkor, anaemia, obesity, xerophthalmia, or pellagra, among others, is mainly caused by having an inadequate diet or a problem absorbing nutrients from food.
There are several reasons either of the two aforementioned conditions might occur, to include having reduced mobility, a long-term health condition such as a chronic disease, and/or a low income, as the case might be.
Other medical conditions that can lead to malnutrition include, but not limited to:
- A condition that results in a lack of appetite such as cancer, liver disease, persistent pain or nausea.
- A mental health condition including depression, dementia, or schizophrenia, which may affect one’s ability to look after him/herself.
- A condition that disrupts one’s body ability to digest food particles or absorb nutrients such as dyspepsia or ulcerative colitis.
- A condition that makes swallowing difficult or painful such as dysphagia as well as persistent vomiting or diarrhoea and eating disorders including anorexia nervosa.
It is worth noting that some kinds of medication can increase one’s risk of developing malnutrition. Medical experts are of the opinion that over two hundred and fifty (250) types of medicine are known to disrupt the body’s ability to absorb as well as breakdown nutrients.
One may also be at risk of becoming malnourished if his or her body has an increased demand for energy. For example, if it’s trying to heal itself after undergoing a major surgery or having sustained a serious injury such as a burn, or if the body is experiencing involuntary movements like tremor.
Physical factors can equally contribute to malnutrition. For instance, if one’s teeth are in a poor state, eating could be difficult or painful. One might also lose his appetite as a result of losing his sense of smell and taste. Similarly, one may be passing through a physical disability or other impairment that makes it difficult for them to cook or shop for food.
Social factors that can contribute to malnutrition include: living alone and being socially isolated, having limited knowledge about nutrition or cooking, as well as alcohol and drug dependency.
The most common symptom of under-nutrition is unintentional weight-loss. Other signs may include: weak muscles, low mood, feeling tired all the time and an increased chances of contracting various illnesses or infections.
On the other hand, the main sign of over-nutrition is being overweight or obese. However, persons living with under-nutrition can also be overweight if they feed on a diet high in energy (calories) but low in other nutrients.
It’s noteworthy that signs of malnutrition in children can include failure to grow at the expected rate coupled with behavioural changes such as appearing unusually irritable, sluggish and/or anxious.
In the hospital or clinic, one could be diagnosed to be malnourished or not, by calculating their Body Mass Index (BMI). Someone with a BMI that falls within 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy. Thus, one with BMI either less than or greater than the above stipulated range is considered malnourished.
It is worthy to note that malnutrition is a severe and deadly medical condition. Significantly, accordingly to the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), statistics show that about 10.9 million children under the age of five die in developing countries like Nigeria each year. Survey indicates that malnutrition and other hunger-related diseases result in about 60% of the said deaths.
In addition, the cost of under-nutrition to national economic development in any of the affected countries around the globe is estimated at 20-30 billion US-dollars per annum.
Based on what caused someone to become malnourished and how severe the condition is, treatment may be carried out at home or in the hospital. Dietary changes are the main treatment for malnutrition. If one is undernourished, he might need to increase the nutritional content of their foods or diet, with or without taking nutritional supplements.
If the person in question is unable to eat enough to meet their nutritional needs, they might need a feeding tube to provide nutrients directly into the digestive system or a drip to provide nutrients and fluids directly into the vein.
The best way to prevent malnutrition is to eat a healthy balanced diet, which is indeed vital for maintaining good health and fitness. To stay healthy, one needs to eat a variety of foods from the four main food groups, namely: plenty of fruit and vegetables; plenty of bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods; some milk and dairy foods; as well as some meat, fish, eggs, and beans, among other non-dairy sources of protein.
Considering the aforementioned likely causes of malnutrition, analysts are of the view that the health anomaly could be fundamentally attributed to illiteracy, ignorance or poverty, as the case may be. This implies that the ongoing crusade regarding the eradication of all forms of malnutrition in the contemporary global society requires the holistic effort of all and sundry including the governments, health experts, civil society, the media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as well-meaning individuals.
The government at all levels in the various affected countries ought to endeavour to establish primary health-care centres within the reach of the citizenry, especially the ordinary people. They must ensure that each of the health centres enjoys the services of at least a qualified resident dietician.
In the same vein, people should be conscientized to visit the health centres situated at their respective localities from time-to-time, in order to acquire the consequential or needed counselling on dietary.
Furthermore, the civil society and NGOs that are concerned with health matters are expected to intensify awareness on the possible causes of malnutrition. It is advisable for them to regularly embark on a door-to-door sensitization campaign and at all times endeavour to organize seminars cum workshops with a view to bringing the less-privileged individuals closer to health cum dietary issues. It’s worth noting that this proposed measure can effectively and efficiently be actualized by involving the mass media.
It’s obvious that most people, particularly those residing at the rural areas, are yet to understand the actual meaning of ‘balanced diet’ owing to lack of education. This is where the informed minds are meant to come in; they should let their relatives, friends, well-wishers, neighbours, and what have you, who are less-privileged – information or education wise – to acknowledge the fact that balanced diet can be obtained within their places of residence such as their home gardens.
It’s no longer news that most individuals are preoccupied with the notion or mindset that a balanced diet comprises ‘expensive’ foods that can only be acquired by high-income earners. On this note, they should be meant to comprehend that anyone can produce essential foods at their houses without involving any tangible or reasonable capital.
Besides, it is estimated that 684,000 child deaths worldwide could be prevented by increasing access to vitamin A and zinc, which can be obtained from vegetables. It’s noteworthy that vegetables can be cultivated and harvested at the comfort of one’s abode.
The schools at all levels to include primary, secondary and tertiary, on their part, ought to ensure that teachings involving dietary are taken more seriously. In this regard, the various tertiary institutions should introduce a General Studies (GS) course that would educate the undergraduates mainly on issues concerning dietary, and agriculture in general.
Such studies as stated above ought to be made to be mandatory and ubiquitous by the various concerned governments through their legislatures. The measure is required to be extended to the secondary and primary schools therein.
Above all, in our individual capacities, we ought to note that malnutrition can easily be prevented if we are continually mindful or conscious of whatever we eat, drink as well as our lifestyles. Also, we mustn’t fail to remain close to our health counsellors or those who are more informed than us regarding dietary matters. This approach alone would go a long way towards keeping us healthy at all times irrespective of the circumstance.
The truth is that, individuals or groups can possibly avert any form of malnutrition in their respective climes, if they adapt the right rules in their everyday life.