Malnutrition
/ˌmæl.njuːˈtrɪʃ.ən/
nounB2
Definition
Malnutrition means not having the right amount or type of food to keep the body healthy. It can happen when a person eats too little food, or food that does not have enough vitamins, minerals, or energy. Malnutrition can make people weak, sick, and slow to grow, especially children.
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See It in Action
Health condition caused by poor diet or lack of nutrients
- •The doctor said the child has malnutrition because she is very thin and weak.
- •Malnutrition can cause delays in growth and problems with the immune system.
- •In some areas, malnutrition is common due to lack of food and clean water.
General problem of not getting enough healthy food
- •Malnutrition affects millions of people around the world.
- •Programs to fight malnutrition focus on giving vitamins and better food.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "malnutrition" like "hungry," but more serious because it means your body is missing important things it needs, not just feeling empty
- ✓Picture a small plant that does not get enough water or sunlight; it grows weak and yellow—this is like malnutrition in people
- ✓It's the feeling when you are tired and sick because your body does not have the right fuel to work well
- ✓Sounds like "mal-nutrition" → imagine "mal" meaning bad, and "nutrition" meaning food that helps you grow; so bad food or not enough food causes malnutrition
- ✓Think of stories about children in poor countries who do not have enough food and become very thin and weak
- ✓NOT like "hunger" (which is feeling empty or wanting food)—malnutrition is more about the quality and amount of food over time, not just short-term hunger
- ✓NOT like "overeating" (eating too much)—malnutrition is about eating too little or unhealthy food
- ✓NOT like "sickness" caused by germs—malnutrition is caused by poor food, not infection
Try Other Words
- •Undernourishment: not enough food or nutrients (Use when focusing on lack of food quantity)
- •Nutritional deficiency: lack of specific vitamins or minerals (Use when talking about missing important nutrients)
- •Starvation: extreme lack of food causing death risk (Use only in very serious cases of no food)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "mal-" (bad) + "nutrition" (the process of eating and using food)
- •Etymology: From Latin "malus" meaning bad, and "nutrire" meaning to feed or nourish
- •Historical development: Used in English since the early 20th century to describe poor health from bad diet
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in health, medicine, and humanitarian aid to describe poor food-related health problems
Reflect & Connect
•How can malnutrition affect a person's daily life and ability to work or study?
•What are some ways communities can help prevent malnutrition, especially in children?
Fill in the blanks
1.Malnutrition happens when a person ___ enough healthy food or ___ the right nutrients.
2.Children with malnutrition often feel ___ and may have trouble ___ properly.
3.Unlike simple hunger, malnutrition is a ___ problem caused by poor diet over ___ time.
4.To treat malnutrition, doctors usually recommend ___ food and sometimes ___ supplements.
5.Malnutrition is ___ common in places where clean water and food are ___.
6.When someone has malnutrition, their body cannot ___ well and they get sick more ___.
7.Programs that fight malnutrition often focus on ___ education and ___ food distribution.