Question

Define malnutrition. Discuss any two factors leading to malnutrition. the answer should be 300-500 words without handwriting

Answer 1

Malnutrition defines as the cellular imbalance between the supply of nutrients and energy and the body's demand to ensure.(WHO )

It is a pathological state resulting from a relative or absolute deficiency or excess of one or more essential nutrition

The term malnutrition cover 4 broad conditions

1. Under nutrition (wasting, stunting, under weight, deficiency )
2. Micro nutrients related malnutrition
3. Over weight, obesity and diet related non communicable disease
4. Imbalance

Malnutrition is man made disease. Malnutrition is multi factorial, there is no universal solution. Intervention have to be cause specific.

Factors contributing malnutrition

• socio economic factors: Poverty, ignorance, lack of education lack of knowledge regarding nutritive value of food, inadequate sanitation environment, large family size amplifies the risk of malnutrition. It causes food insecurity ie inadequate food intake. It mainly affect the vulnerable group such as pregnant women and children.The problems are low weight gain, increased maternal mortality, infant mortality, protein energy malnutrition, impaired mental development, stunted growth etc. Poverty also leads poor access to health care. It contributes malnutrition. It common in developing countries.
• Cultural influence : It is causes of malnutrition. Food habits, custom, belief, traditions and attitude. Example Papaya is avoided during pregnancy because it is believed to cause abortion. Religion has a powerful influence on food habits. Food fads is patients likes and dislike which causes nutritional deficiency. Cooking practices such as prolonged boiling pealing of vegetables influences nutritive value of food. Child rearing practices such as adoption of bottle feeding and commercially produced refine food causes malnutrition. Chronic alcoholism is another factor which may lead to malnutrition.