Recent research has highlighted significant increases in the number of older adults in the U.S. suffering from malnutrition. According to some studies, death rates from malnutrition have doubled since 2018.
Keeping an eye on loved ones who might be at risk of malnutrition is key to helping them stay healthier.
What Is Malnutrition?
“Malnutrition occurs when you do not meet your nutrition needs over an extended period of time,” says Ashlee Carnahan, MS, RD, a registered dietitian at Henry Ford Health. It means you’re not taking in enough calories, protein and essential nutrients to keep your body functioning.
There are two types of malnutrition—chronic and acute. Chronic malnutrition describes someone who has not been able to eat well for more than one month. It can go on for months or even years when someone doesn’t eat enough and stays continuously under-nourished.
Acute malnutrition typically happens in response to a sudden trauma or other unexpected event. It can affect even young, healthy people when an illness or accident leaves them suddenly unable to eat well. “Even a week in the hospital, if you’re not eating well, can put you at high risk of malnutrition,” says Carnahan.
Who’s at Risk of Malnourishment?
Worldwide, malnutrition accounts for nearly half the deaths in children under age 5. This occurs mostly in low-income countries. In the U.S., older adults are the group most likely to experience malnutrition.
Besides age, other factors that increase a person’s risk of malnourishment include:
- Being in the hospital
- Difficulties accessing or preparing healthy food
- Having a chronic condition that affects your appetite or ability to chew and swallow (such as cancer, heart failure, stroke)
Signs of Malnutrition
When you’re ill, it’s not uncommon to have a reduced appetite and lose some weight. “But if you see that someone has lost a significant amount of weight in a short amount of time, that can be a red flag,” says Carnahan.
It’s also important to pay attention to changes in someone’s diet. “If their intake has decreased to half or less of what was previously their normal intake, that’s worth noting,” she says.
In addition to weight loss, other aspects of their physical appearance and physical fitness might also change. Being malnourished leads to losing muscle mass. That can leave someone more frail, weak and unable to perform basic tasks they could previously.
How Malnutrition Affects Overall Health
Illness and malnourishment can become a vicious cycle. When you’re not feeling well, it can be challenging to eat well. But not getting enough nutrition can make recovery from illness more difficult.
“Nutrition is the foundation for health and getting enough protein and calories are very important for healing,” explains Carnahan. “Not getting good nutrition when you’re sick can result in a longer hospital stay, higher risk of infection, skin breakdown and worse overall outcomes.”
Getting Help to Manage Malnutrition
If you or a loved one are at risk of malnutrition, it’s important to get help as soon as possible. A registered dietitian has the expertise to identify warning signs and provide medical nutrition therapy.
“We work to catch these patients before they start a downward spiral that’s harder to recover from,” says Carnahan. She recommends seeking out a dietitian during a hospital stay or any time someone isn’t able to consume the nutrition they need for optimal health.
“We work with patients to identify appealing foods that also provide the most nutritional bang for the buck,” she says. Then focus on finding sources of high-quality protein like eggs, Greek yogurt and peanut butter. These are foods that deliver a lot of nutrient density.
“Nutrition plays an important part in healing, recovery and optimal health,” says Carnahan. “If you’re concerned about your nutrition status, or that of a loved one, we can help turn things around with appropriate interventions.”
Reviewed by Ashlee Carnahan, MS, RD, CLC, CPT, manager of Nutrition and Education Services and director of the dietetic internship at Henry Ford Health.
