Introduction
The normal functioning of body organs is something that requires an adequate amount of mineral salts, fluids, and nutrients that are derived from different food materials. The problem of malnutrition occurs when a person’s nutritional supplements are insufficient, imbalanced, or excess. Many people assume that undernourishment is the only form of malnutrition. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to analyze the major risk factors and causes of this health predicament.
Thesis statement
Malnutrition is a complex nutritional status caused by not only undernutrition in poor populations but also by overnutrition, poor health conditions, and sedentary lifestyles.
Causes of Malnutrition
Biesalski and Black argue that malnutrition is caused by a wide range of factors that work synergistically or independently (41). To begin with, individuals who do not get adequate nutrients will have increased chances of being malnourished. In poor countries, many people and children lack balanced diets. Similarly, individuals who fail to develop healthy eating habits or ignore the required nutrients such as vitamins, proteins, minerals, and fats will suffer from malnutrition. Additionally, some diets are usually harmful or indigestible. For instance, chewing gums can be swallowed by children, thereby increasing their chances of developing the problem. Some food materials contain numerous chemicals that can result in malnutrition. This is also a risk factor for chronic infections, cancers, and tumors.
Individuals should be encouraged to regulate their diets (Menon et al. 5). Any irregular eating pattern or intake of unhealthy food materials can result in malnourishment. Irregular meals are known to cause ingestion and bloating. Children living in dirty environments will lack pure light and clean oxygen. These attributes will make it impossible for the body to process various food materials and nutrients (Khan et al. 28).
Sahn believes that people who fail to get adequate rest and sleep will have increased chances of becoming malnourished (31). For instance, studies have revealed that children who watch television for long hours will not get adequate sleep. This malpractice is linked to poor digestion and an imbalanced intake of nutrients. The process will eventually result in malnutrition. These aspects explain why people should focus on their nutritional requirements in order to overcome this health problem.
There are some risk factors that are associated with malnutrition. For instance, heavy and tedious activities can affect a person’s digestive process. Children are usually at a higher risk of developing this problem. Some health conditions such as ringworms, measles, and kwashiorkor will expose more children to malnutrition. Such diseases are known to disorient normal body functions, thereby affecting the rate at which the body absorbs various nutrients.
Sahn goes further to explain how individuals who fail to engage in exercises and physical activities record slowed digestive processes (89). Dysphasia, a condition associated with eating difficulty, has been linked to malnutrition by different scientists (Biesalski and Black 102). Consequently, the affected persons tend to have higher chances of becoming obese.
Khan et al. indicate that starvation is a leading cause of malnutrition in the underdeveloped world (29). Many homeless persons and children living in poverty do not get enough food. This reason explains why such individuals have higher chances of suffering from malnutrition. Similarly, people who have various eating problems or disorders will not maintain their body’s nutrition levels. A good example of such a conditions is anorexia nervosa (Oxlade et al. 4). Poverty is something that has been associated with homelessness and discrimination. People living in low-income neighborhoods or marginalized societies will develop a wide range of nutritional problems.
Lack of adequate information is another potential cause of malnutrition in the developed world. The role of human services professionals and nutritionists is to guide people and empower them to design balanced diets for their families (Menon et al. 11). Unfortunately, many individuals with good salaries fail to focus on the right dietary intakes or requirements. They also ignore the nutritional statuses of their children, thereby exposing them to diseases such as obesity.
Some might also lack adequate nutrients and mineral salts. These malpractices will result in malnutrition. Finally, people living in regions that lack adequate medical facilities are at risk of being undernourished (Oxlade et al. 7). This is the case because the health statuses of such persons are not monitored frequently. Some of the underlying diseases that can disorient various digestive processes tend to go undetected. Other potential causes of malnutrition include diarrhea, heart disease, smoking, and drug abuse.
Conclusion
This discussion has revealed that malnutrition is a serious health problem that takes different forms such as obesity and undernourishment. People should be keen to focus on each of these causes of malnutrition in order to improve their nutritional status. These attributes should, therefore, be examined keenly in an attempt to develop powerful models to deal with this preventable health predicament. Governments and local agencies must implement effective campaigns and initiatives to sensitize more people about the causes of malnutrition and the best approaches to improve people’s health outcomes.
Works Cited
Biesalski, Hans K., and Robert E. Black. Hidden Hunger: Malnutrition and the First 1,000 Days of Life: Causes, Consequences and Solutions. Karger Publications, 2016.
Khan, Alamgir, et al. “Causes, Signs and Symptoms of Malnutrition Among the Children.” Journal of Nutrition and Human Health, vol. 1, no. 1, 2017, pp. 24-37.
Menon, Sonia, et al. “Convergence of a Diabetes Mellitus, Protein Energy Malnutrition, and TB Epidemic: The Neglected Elderly Population.” BMC Infectious Diseases, vol. 16, no. 361, 2016, pp. 1-14.
Oxlade, Olivia, et al. “Estimating the Impact of Reducing Under-Nutrition on the Tuberculosis Epidemic in the Central Eastern States of India: A Dynamic Modeling Study.” PLOS ONE, vol. 10, no. 6, 2015, pp. 1-15.
Sahn, David E. The Fight Against Hunger and Malnutrition: The Role of Food, Agriculture, and Targeted Policies. Oxford University Press, 2015.