Malnutrition: Types, Causes, and Risk Factors

Has been reviewed and approved by dr. Maria Angela, Sp.GK

When talking about malnutrition, most people think of nutritional deficiencies, or what's more commonly known as undernutrition. However, undernutrition is only one type of malnutrition that can occur. For more details, check out this article!

Types of Malnutrition

Malnutrition isn't just about nutrient deficiencies, but also nutrient excesses. Based on the type of nutrient, malnutrition can be divided into two categories: macronutrient and micronutrient.

Macronutrients

Macronutrients are nutrients the body requires in large quantities because they serve as a source of energy. Three macronutrients are carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Malnutrition in these nutrients can lead to various health problems, including:

• Macronutrient deficiency: The symptoms that appear can vary depending on which type of macronutrient is deficient. Some of these symptoms are like constipation, weakness, stunting and decreased immunity.

• Excess Macronutrients Intake: overweight, metabolic system disorders, blood vessel problems, diabetes, and stroke.

Micronutrients

Micronutrients are nutrients that the body needs in smaller amounts, but very important for body health. There are two main categories of micronutrients: vitamins and minerals.

• Micronutrient deficiencies: For example, a lack of vitamin A can cause digestive disorders, while a lack of iron can cause anemia.

• Excess Micronutrient Intake: This generally occurs due to excessive consumption of supplements. The effects can lead to poisoning or hormonal disruption.

Causes of Malnutrition

Nutrients generally enter the body through the food, drinks, and supplements we consume daily. Therefore, the primary cause of malnutrition is what you consume daily.

Nutritional deficiencies can occur due to a lack of variety in the diet, resulting in an imbalance in the nutrients entering the body. Meanwhile, nutritional excesses can be caused by excess food intake or due to excessive consumption of supplements.

Apart from the food menu or supplements, malnutrition can also occur due to illnesses that are being suffered, such as:

• digestive disorders that make you lose your appetite, or impaired absorption of nutrients

• there is a problem with the metabolic system influencing nutrient absorption is not optimal, or increased need for certain nutrients

Risk Factors

Malnutrition can happen to anyone, but the risks higher on people with the following conditions:

• Financial limitations, difficult to meet the body's daily nutritional needs.

• Having limited access to nutritious food.

• Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children, who require a higher calorie intake than normal.

• Psychological disorders related to eating, such as anorexia.

• Suffering from a disease that causes difficulty eating or absorbing nutrients from food.

• In a strict diet program, such as a carbohydrate diet.

While it may seem simple, as it's all about food, preventing malnutrition is challenging for some. For example, in families with limited financial resources, the menu isn't as important; the important thing is that they can eat and feel full.

However, if malnutrition occurs due to something preventable, such as following a strict diet to lose weight, you can still prevent it by paying attention to the nutrition of the food you consume. If you need professional guidance on designing your diet program to stay healthy, you can visit nutrition specialist Of Premier Hospital Surabaya.

Not only can you design a healthy diet program, but you can also consult with our experienced doctors about nutrition. Our doctors will perform various tests to analyze your daily nutritional needs based on various factors, such as age, gender, daily activity levels, and more. By knowing your estimated daily nutritional needs, you can better prepare a healthy and nutritious menu to prevent malnutrition.

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