Eating and nourishing oneself is, along with hydrating and breathing, one of the most basic needs not only of human beings but of all living beings. In the case of our species, we need to eat to acquire enough nutrients for our body to function and survive.
However, there is a high percentage of the world’s population that does not have access to enough food to survive or is not able to process and use the nutrients in it. These people are or will be malnourished, something that generates a series of consequences of varying severity. In this article we are going to talk about the effects of malnutrition as well as its concept.
As indicated by the World Health Organization, the existence of a lack or lack of nutrition or the amount of calories, nutrients, vitamins and minerals necessary for the preservation of a correct state of health, said state being in accordance with what is expected based on the age of the individual.
In other words, we are facing a lack of sufficient nutrients in the body to maintain optimal levels of functioning. Lack of sufficient nutrients It will generate the consumption of internal energy reserves (and if necessary, the organism consumes its own tissues to survive), resulting in a progressive weakening of the organism that can even lead to the death of the subject.
Types according to causes
The concept of malnutrition can be easily understood, but it is necessary to keep in mind that in reality we can find various types of malnutrition, although the effects on the body are similar One of the existing classifications takes into account where the absence of nutrients comes from, generating two main categories.
In the first of them, the so-called primary malnutrition, the person has a nutrient deficiency resulting from insufficient nutrition or starvation. This lack of nutrition can happen in various contexts. The most obvious case can be found with people who do not have access to a sufficient amount of food, such as in countries with famine and high levels of poverty.
Another type of situation in which primary malnutrition appears occurs in people who, despite living in a context in which they can access enough food, do not eat, being the case of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa
A second type of malnutrition is called secondary malnutrition, in which the subject does have an adequate and sufficient intake but due to some alteration or disease he is not able to metabolize the nutrients. This implies that these nutrients are not integrated and used by the body, something that will also generate adverse effects on health.
Effects of malnutrition
The lack of nutrients has considerable effects on the body, which can even lead to death in people of any age, race or condition if sufficient essential elements are not obtained to keep the organs functioning. In the majority of human beings, malnutrition can cause effects such as the following, although the ones we are going to present are not the only ones.
1. Changes in weight and body volume
One of the most quickly visible aspects of malnutrition is that there is considerable weight loss. However, if the malnutrition situation is prolonged and affects hormones such as insulin and glucagon certain abdominal obesity may appear derived from the alteration of food metabolism.
2. Loss of muscle mass
In the absence of sufficient protein, the body acts to protect its survival by extracting energy from the body’s own fibers, for example consuming muscle fibers in what is known as protein catabolism
Another consequence of a lack of nutrients is a decrease in muscle tone, with lower muscle tension and strength. Likewise also a great decrease in physical and mental energy is observed
4. Bone fragility
As with muscles, bones are also affected by malnutrition. They become more fragile and brittle the presence of injuries and breaks being more likely.
5. Amenorrhea
The menstrual cycle is also affected by malnutrition, and a lack of nutrients can cause irregularities and even the cessation of menstruation.
6. Weakening of the immune system
One of the most affected by the loss of nutrients is the immune system. A weakness is generated in said system that hinders the response to bacteria and viruses making it much easier for infections and diseases to appear.
7. Tooth irritation and bleeding
The presence of dental problems is also observed, often presenting gum irritation and even bleeding.
8. Edema
It is common that the lack of nutrients and the existence of electrolyte imbalances derived from insufficient nutrition cause the accumulation of fluids in different parts of the body generating swelling in the form of edema.
9. Cardiovascular disorders
Lack of nutrients weakens the heart muscle and blood vessels, which can cause arrhythmias, hypotension, heart failure and death.
10. Decreased gastrointestinal functioning
The fact of not having enough nutrients for the body to function properly also affects the digestive tract , making it unable to act correctly. In fact, a person with prolonged malnutrition cannot start eating normal amounts all at once, and must adapt little by little so that intestinal motility recovers its usual course.
11. Impaired cognitive ability
Malnutrition also, and to a large extent, affects the nervous system. At a cognitive level, it is common to generate alterations in cognitive capacity, reducing the emission of elaborate responses, the ability to plan and make decisions judgment or the ability to concentrate or inhibit behavior.
12. Emotional lability, irritability and mental problems
Lack of nutrients affects the capacity for behavioral inhibition and facilitates attack/flight responses. Emotions come to the surface more easily than usual Irritability, anxiety or depression problems are much more common.
13. Affects respiratory capacity
It can cause problems with our body’s ability to oxygenate itself and expel carbon dioxide.
14. Slows down metabolism
When the body realizes that it does not have enough nutrients to function properly, proceeds to try to reduce metabolism in order to save energy
15. Pancreatic and liver dysfunctions
The liver and pancreas are also affected by malnutrition, being unable to purify the blood or generate insulin and glucagon and altering the functioning of the digestive system.
16. Kidney problems
The ability of the kidneys to act as a filter for the blood and that allows you to eliminate waste and harmful elements is also affected. The lack of nutrients hinders its function, not filtering these elements correctly.
17. Anemia
One of the consequences of nutrient deficiency is the appearance of anemia, that is, decreased red blood cell production derived from the lack of basic components such as iron or vitamins. It causes dizziness, fainting, headaches, arrhythmias, paleness, numbness and lack of blood flow in some parts of the body.
Malnutrition in childhood
So far we have talked about different effects of malnutrition on human beings in general. However, it has been shown that The evolutionary moment in which malnutrition appears is of great importance
Specifically, the earlier in the evolutionary development, the greater the impact it will have on the subject. Difficulties due to lack of nutrients during development will cause it to be altered and not achieved at a typical rate or in a typical way, causing some consequences to remain for life.
Childhood malnutrition is one of the most serious, since it causes a slowdown in physical and intellectual development. For example, growth usually stops in terms of weight and height and it is possible that psychomotor delay and speech problems may appear, as well as attention difficulties. Ventral swelling and capillary problems also appear. Brain growth slows down and atrophies, fewer glial cells and myelination problems can occur.
