{"id":8093,"date":"2018-11-02T09:34:28","date_gmt":"2018-11-02T09:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uk.inbody.com\/?p=8093"},"modified":"2021-05-12T08:08:41","modified_gmt":"2021-05-12T07:08:41","slug":"what-you-can-do-about-malnutrition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ro.inbody.com\/ro\/what-you-can-do-about-malnutrition\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Can Do About Malnutrition?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

When it comes to malnutrition, most the focus\u2014and rightly so\u2014is on severe malnutrition in developing countries where<\/span> lack of access to food<\/span><\/a> has tragic consequences.<\/span><\/p>\n

This condition can have debilitating effects on body composition, quality of life, and independent living<\/strong>. But malnutrition among older adults in developed countries is more widespread than most people realize.  How can malnutrition coexist in countries that have an obesity epidemic?<\/span><\/p>\n

Technically<\/span><\/i>, malnutrition is an umbrella term including overnutrition<\/strong> (i.e. obesity) and undernutrition<\/strong>. Just as important as fighting increasing obesity, it\u2019s important to understand how various aspects of aging can make it difficult to consume all the essential nutrients the body needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

The good news is that malnutrition is easily diagnosed, managed and even reversed. As we continue we will be discussing treatment and prevention, but first let\u2019s raise awareness about the issue itself.<\/span><\/p>\n

The What, Who, and Why of Malnutrition and Aging<\/h2>\n

With so many different people experiencing different effects and severities of malnutrition, it can be complicated to break down. Since there are several primary types of malnutrition, we\u2019ll focus on how malnutrition impacts body composition and why this is so important for your long-term health.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

WHAT IS MALNUTRITION?<\/h3>\n

The World Health Organization defines malnutrition as \u201c<\/span>deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person\u2019s intake of energy and\/or nutrients\u201d. <\/span>Protein-energy deficiency<\/strong> is one of the most common forms of malnutrition<\/strong> and this health condition has an immediate and negative impact on body composition. This deficiency wreaks havoc on skeletal muscle mass<\/strong> in particular, as the body eventually goes into starvation mode and breaks down its own protein (stored in muscle) for fuel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Micronutrient deficiency<\/strong> is a lack of nutrients, like minerals and vitamins, that support important bodily processes like cells regeneration, your immune system, and even eyesight. Some common examples are iron or calcium deficiencies. Micronutrient deficiency has the greatest impact on normal physiological functions\/processes<\/strong> and can actually occur in conjunction with protein-energy deficiency since most micronutrients are obtained from food.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although nutritional deficiencies of <\/span>certain micronutrients<\/span><\/a> can impact processes such as building and repairing muscle, protein-energy deficiency has a more pronounced effect on body composition due to the fact that lowered protein intake can lead to more drastic losses in muscle mass. The <\/span>American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) <\/span><\/i>defines <\/span>several features<\/span><\/a> of malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies in adults:<\/span><\/p>\n