Synonyms
Malnutrition, quantitative malnutritionThe human body needs large amounts of energy every day, which it uses to set various metabolic processes in motion. Also the supply of the organs and the brain can only be guaranteed by using energy. As a result, the organism is dependent on a regular supply of food components such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, fiber, vitamins and trace elements.
Malnutrition is a special form of malnutrition. When the intake of food components is too low, the daily basal metabolic rate (i.e. the energy consumed by various metabolic processes during the day) exceeds the energy suppliers that are taken in. This results in a negative energy balance, which ultimately leads to a reduction in body weight.
From the general malnutrition (here it lacks almost all food components), a partial malnutrition can be distinguished, for example, where not enough protein or carbohydrates are absorbed. Malnutrition can have devastating effects on the mental and physical development of adults, but especially adolescents. In addition to the occurrence of acute underweight, dwarfism or mental retardation, malnutrition that persists over a long period of time can lead to organ failure and even death.
Causes
Malnutrition does not usually occur when too little food is taken in over a short period of time. The human body has so-called energy reserves (for example, the fatty tissue) from which it can mobilize energy. Only when too little food is distorted over a period of several weeks to months, the first signs of malnutrition become apparent.
- Lack of food: Probably the most obvious cause of malnutrition is a lack of food supply (financial aspect). Fundamental poverty or disproportionately high food prices can be one reason why not enough food can be acquired and consumed. Especially in the third world, malnutrition plays a central role.
In these areas, many people cannot be adequately supplied with food and drinking water. The exact reasons for this are complex.
- Malnutrition: In addition to this financial aspect, incorrect nutritional behavior is the cause of malnutrition in many of those affected. By the term wrong nourishing behavior one understands a condition, with which a person eats despite sufficient food offer insufficiently much or too unbalanced.
In most cases, a so-called malnutrition results from this incorrect/unhealthy nutrition, in which the organism is missing only one or more food components. In contrast to the usual malnutrition, other energy suppliers are present in sufficient quantity. A malnutrition is in most cases anerzogen and is based on a missing knowledge regarding healthy and balanced nutrition.
Furthermore, a malnutrition can also be consciously chosen. Also by insufficient knowledge about vegan nutrition a malnutrition can arise, this danger exists particularly with children. Unrealistic ideal measures awaken the desire to lose weight, especially in young people.
For this reason, many of them consciously abstain from regular and balanced nutrition and thereby steer themselves into malnutrition.
- Aging process: Another cause of malnutrition that should not be underestimated is the aging process. In the course of aging, the human body and the metabolic processes taking place within it change. For many people, appetite steadily decreases during the second half of life.
Chewing and swallowing also becomes increasingly difficult, for example due to the lack of teeth. In addition, the organism needs a different food composition in old age. The decrease in physical and/or mental performance also plays a decisive role in the occurrence of malnutrition in old age.
- Diseases: Diseases and a variety of drugs can also provoke malnutrition.
This fact can be explained, for example, by the fact that many diseases curb the appetite, make it difficult to absorb individual food components or limit their metabolism.In addition, chewing and swallowing of food can be impeded in the course of an illness and food intake can be restricted as a result. Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in particular can lead to malnutrition through the occurrence of nausea and vomiting. In the case of disease-induced malnutrition, the affected person finds himself in a disproportion between food intake (which decreases) and energy requirements (which increases in the case of illness).
The following diseases are particularly relevant in this context: fever infections hyperthyroidism burns large open wounds kidney diseases with blood washing
- Fever
- Infections
- Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
- Burns
- Large open wounds
- Kidney diseases with blood washing
- Since various drugs also have a strong influence on metabolism and thus affect the basal metabolic rate, patients may need to adjust their dietary habits. Drugs that can lead to malnutrition are Blood sugar-lowering drugs such as insulin or oral antidiabetics Painkillers and antirheumatic drugs Chemotherapeutics Corticosteroids such as cortisone
- Medicines that decrease blood sugar like insulin or oral antidiabetics
- Painkillers and antirheumatic drugs
- Chemotherapeutics
- Corticosteroids like cortisone
- Other causes: In addition, even perfectly healthy growing children and adolescents and nursing or pregnant women have an increased energy requirement. Also those people who suffer from heavy physical strain or stress generally have a strongly increased energy demand, which must be compensated by an increased food intake.
- Fever
- Infections
- Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
- Burns
- Large open wounds
- Kidney diseases with blood washing
- Medicines that decrease blood sugar like insulin or oral antidiabetics
- Painkillers and antirheumatic drugs
- Chemotherapeutics
- Corticosteroids like cortisone