ADP | Food Science | Topic 3 | State of Nutrition/Nutritional Status (2022)

State of Nutrition/Nutritional status

• Malnutrition

Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. The term malnutrition addresses 3 broad groups of conditions:

• Undernutrition, which includes wasting (low weight-for-height), stunting (low height-for-age) and underweight (low weight-for-age);

• Micronutrient-related malnutrition, which includes micronutrient deficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals) or micronutrient excess; 

• Overweight, obesity, and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers).

Obesity is defined as a metabolic disorder that leads to an overaccumulation of fat tissue. For many, the word “malnutrition” produces an image of a child in a third-world country with a bloated belly, and skinny arms and legs. However, this image alone is not an accurate representation of the state of malnutrition. 

For example, someone who is 150 pounds overweight can also be malnourished.

Malnutrition refers to one not receiving proper nutrition and does not distinguish between the consequences of too many nutrients or the lack of nutrients, both of which impair

overall health, Undernutrition is characterized by a lack of nutrients and insufficient energy supply, undernutrition is not uncommon and affects many subpopulations, including the elderly, those with certain diseases, and those in poverty. 

Many people who live with diseases either have no appetite or may not be able to digest food properly. Some medical causes of malnutrition include cancer, inflammatory bowel syndrome, AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, illnesses or conditions that cause chronic pain, psychiatric illnesses, such as anorexia nervosa, or as a result of side effects from medications. whereas Overnutrition is characterized by excessive nutrient and energy intake. 

Overnutrition can result in obesity, a growing global health threat. Overnutrition is an epidemic in the United States and is known to be a risk factor for many diseases, including Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory disorders (such as rheumatoid arthritis), and cancer. Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. The term malnutrition addresses 3 broad groups of conditions:

Malnutrition global scenario

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 815 million people around the world suffer from malnourishment. Hunger strikes a nation when violence, conflict, and any type of instability are present.

According to W.H.O 1.9 billion adults are overweight or obese, while 462 million are underweight. There are approximately 516.5 million malnourished individuals living in the Asia and Pacific region and about 239 million malnourished living in Sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, there are 821.6 million people that are considered undernourished or starving.

Globally in 2020, 149 million children under 5 were estimated to be stunted (too short for age), 45 million were estimated to be wasted (too thin for height), and 38.9 million were overweight or obese.

Around 45% of deaths among children under 5 years of age are linked to undernutrition. These mostly occur in low- and middle-income countries. At the same time, in these same countries, rates of childhood overweight and obesity are rising.

The developmental, economic, social, and medical impacts of the global burden of malnutrition are serious and lasting, for individuals and their families, communities, and for countries. In 2014, approximately 462 million adults worldwide were underweighted, while 1.9 billion were either overweight or obese.

In 2016, an estimated 155 million children under the age of 5 years were suffering from stunting, while 41 million were overweight or obese. Around 45% of deaths among children under 5 years of age are linked to undernutrition. These mostly occur in low- and middle-income countries. At the same time, in these same countries, rates of childhood overweight and obesity are rising.

Top 5 malnutritional countries

1. Central African Republic (CAR): CAR is known to be the hungriest country in the world.

Half of its population suffers from hunger. CAR has the highest malnutrition rate at 61.8 percent. Somalia has the highest level of hunger according to the 2021 GHI ranking it is at 50.8 in the global hunger index.

2. Zimbabwe: A combination of the economic crisis and the devastating drought from October to May has resulted in Zimbabwe’s 46.6 percent malnutrition rate. About 5.5 million people will need food assistance by 2020.

3. Haiti: Haiti has gone through hurricanes, floods, political instability, and earthquakes that account for its high levels of hunger. About 22 percent of children are chronically malnourished, and 66 percent of children under the age of five are anemic. Half of the 10.7 million people in Haiti are undernourished. Haiti’s malnutrition rate comes in at 45.8 percent.

4. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea: More than 10 million people, around 40 percent of the population.

5. Zambia: The drought from 2001-2002 has driven Zambia into a “massive food deficit” that affected more than 2.3 million households who are dependent on rural agriculture. About 58 percent of the population are “classified as extremely poor,” hungry, and food insecure. About 25 percent of children under five are underweight, and 6 percent are severely malnourished.

Organizations Combatting Malnutrition

Organizations like Action Against Hunger and UNICEF are trying to combat malnutrition. The World Food Program helps 86.7 million people in 83 different countries every year. IFRC and the DPRK Red Cross have also helped highly vulnerable countries like North Korea.

IFRC has given about 77,000 Swiss francs to the national Red Cross efforts to help 22,000 people.

Malnutrition local scenario