By Auwal Musa Umar
MALNUTRITION
The term “Malnutrition” was derived from the combination of two words “Mal” and “Nutrition” which refers to “Bad Nutrition”.
Malnutrition can be caused by over-nutrition (excess energy or nutrient intake) or undernutrition (deficient energy or nutrient intake).
The concept of malnutrition usually considered as a condition that results when the cells do not receive an adequate supply of the essential nutrients because of poor diet or poor utilization of food.
In some instances, it presents because people do not or cannot eat enough of the foods that provide the essential nutrients to satisfy body needs.
At other times people may eat well-balanced diets but suffer from diseases that prevent normal usage of the nutrients.
Overnutrition has become a larger problem in some parts of the world than undernutrition. Overeating and the ingestion of large doses of various vitamins and minerals (without a prescription) are two major causes of over nutrition worldwide.
Firstly, people supposed to understand the BASIC courses of Nutrient Deficiency; a nutrient deficiency set in when a person lacks one or more nutrients over a period of time.
Kano ,Now has a New Nutrition Policy and Action Plan-PS Balarabe
Nutrient deficiencies classified as primary or secondary. Primary deficiencies are caused by inadequate dietary intake. Secondary deficiencies are caused by something other than diets, such as a disease condition that may cause malabsorption, accelerated excretion, or destruction of the nutrients. Nutrient deficiencies can result in malnutrition
INDIVIDUALS AT RISK FROM POOR NUTRITIONAL INTAKE
Teenagers may eat often but at unusual hours. They may miss regularly scheduled meals, become hungry, and satisfy their hunger with foods that have low nutrient density such as potato chips, cakes, soda, and candy.
Foods with low nutrient density provide an abundance of calories, but the nutrients are primarily carbohydrates and fats and, except for sodium, very limited amounts of proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
Teenagers are subject to peer pressure; that is, they are easily influenced by the opinions of their friends. If friends favor foods with low nutrient density, it is difficult for a teenager to differ from them.
Crash diets, which unfortunately are common among teens, sometimes result in a form of malnutrition.
Pregnancy increases a woman’s hunger and the need for certain nutrients, especially proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Pregnancy during adolescence requires extreme care in food selection.
The young mother-to-be requires a diet that provides sufficient nutrients for the developing fetus as well as for her own still-growing body. Many factors influence nutrition in the elderly, depression, loneliness, lack of income, inability to shop, inability to prepare meals, and the state of overall health can all lead to malnutrition.
Nutrition has many effects some the cumulative effects of nutrition; there is an increasing concern among health professionals regarding the cumulative effects of nutrition.
Cumulative effects are the results of something that is done repeatedly over many years. For example, eating excessive amounts of saturated fats for many years contributes to atherosclerosis, which leads to heart attacks.
Years of overeating can cause obesity and may also contribute to hypertension, type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes, gallbladder disease, foot problems, certain cancers, and even personality disorders.
Deficiency Diseases when nutrients are seriously lacking in the diet for an extended period, deficiency diseases can occur.
The most common form of deficiency disease in Nigeria among women of reproductive age is iron deficiency, which is caused by a lack of the mineral iron and can cause iron-deficiency anemia, which is particularly common among children and women.
Iron is a necessary component of the blood and is lost during each menstrual period.
In addition, the amount of iron needed during childhood and pregnancy is greater than normal because of the growth of the child or the fetus. Rickets is another example of deficiency disease.
It causes poor bone formation in children and is due to insufficient calcium and vitamin D. These same deficiencies cause osteomalacia in young adults and osteoporosis in older adults.
Osteomalacia is sometimes called “adult rickets.” It causes the bones to soften and may cause the spine to bend and the legs to become bowed. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become porous and excessively brittle.
Too little iodine may cause goiter, and a severe shortage of vitamin A client’s ability to buy and prepare food can lead to blindness.
Auwal Musa Umar Is the President (ANDs/IDN)Association Of Nigerian Dietitians/Institute of Dietetics in Nigeria. Kano state chapter.
