Malnutrition

Malnutrition, or the lack of proper nutrition, can be a serious problem. It  results from imbalance between the body's needs and the intake of nutrients, which can lead to syndromes of deficiency, dependency, toxicity, or obesity. Malnutrition includes undernutrition, in which nutrients are undersupplied, and overnutrition, in which nutrients are oversupplied. Undernutrition can result from inadequate intake; malabsorption; abnormal systemic loss of nutrients due to diarrhea, hemorrhage, renal failure, or excessive sweating; infection; or addiction to drugs. Overnutrition can result from overeating; insufficient exercise; overprescription of therapeutic diets, including parenteral nutrition; excess intake of vitamins, particularly pyridoxine (vitamin B₆), niacin, and vitamins A and D; and excess intake of trace minerals.(www.merck.com)

Despite, the fact that sufficient food is produced in a global level, more than 800 million people throughout the world, and particularly in developing countries, do not have enough food to meet their basic nutritional needs. This situation is called food insecurity. In contrast, food security exists when all people, at all times, have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Maria Toumpi, MSc

Clinical Nutritionist - Dietitian