Malnutrition: causes and consequences

Eating is not synonymous with nourishing ourselves. Yes, you may think you are well-fed because you eat several times a day, but it is possible that you are malnourished and do not realize it.When you hear the word malnutrition, images of emaciated children come to mind, where bones are visible under the skin; this is why we often forget what malnutrition really means.What is malnutrition?According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition refers to both deficiencies and excesses or imbalances in a person's nutrient intake, encompassing two types of conditions.Undernutrition, which includes stunted growth in height; wasting, which is weight less than what corresponds to height or age, and lack of important vitamins and minerals.The second type is overweight and obesity. This focuses on all non-communicable diseases related to diet, such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and cancer.Broadly speaking, the term malnutrition refers to eating too little, eating too much, improperly combining foods, consuming foods with low nutritional value, or eating contaminated foods.Another misconception about malnutrition is the belief that hunger is a problem that affects third-world countries, while obesity affects first-world countries; however, you should know that this is a global problem that affects us all.And not only that, according to WHO data, one in three people suffers from some form of malnutrition. It is more common than you think to see people with different forms of malnutrition coexisting in the same country, in the same community, and sometimes even in the same family.The problem is so serious that governments, as well as the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, are taking joint actions to eradicate malnutrition.At home, we can prevent this condition by organizing our meals and making better food choices.And at the community level, you can contribute to the work of foundations and associations dedicated to helping underprivileged children achieve balanced nutrition, such as Drawing a Tomorrow or Eat and Grow, and contribute to their healthy development and better future.