The 17 Effects of Malnutrition on the Human Body

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 bodies 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 that is not able to process and use the existing nutrients in them. 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.

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Malnutrition: basic definition

As the World Health Organization indicates, malnutrition is called the existence of a lack or lack of food 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 the lack of enough nutrients in the body to maintain optimal levels of functioning. The absence of sufficient nutrients will generate the consumption of internal energy reserves (and if necessary, the body will consume its own tissues to survive), appearing a progressive weakening of the organism that can even lead to the death of the subject.

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Types according to causes

The concept of malnutrition can be easily understood, but it is necessary to bear in mind that in reality we can find different 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 presents a deficit of nutrients derived from insufficient nutrition or starvation. This lack of nutrition can occur 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 a high level 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 the so-called secondary malnutrition, in which the subject does take an ingestion adequate and sufficiently but that due to some alteration or disease 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 enough essential elements are not obtained to keep the organs functioning. In most human beings, malnutrition can cause effects such as the following, although those that we are going to present are not the only ones.

1. Changes in body weight and volume

One of the most readily 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 some 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, consuming for example muscle fibers in known as protein catabolism.

3. Hypotonia and decreased energy levels

Another consequence of the lack of nutrients is the decrease in muscle tone, with less muscle tension and strength. Likewise also there is a great decrease in physical and mental energy.

4. Bone fragility

As with the muscles, the bones are also affected by malnutrition. They become more brittle and brittle, the presence of injuries and breaks being more likely.

5. Amenorrhea

The menstrual cycle is also affected by malnutrition, the lack of nutrients can cause irregularities and even the cessation of the rule.

6. Weakening of the immune system

One of the great 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, being much easier for infections and diseases to appear.

7. Tooth irritation and bleeding

The presence of dental problems is also observed, often presenting irritation to the gums and even bleeding.

8. Edema

It is common for the lack of nutrients and the existence of electrolyte imbalances derived from insufficient nutrition to cause the accumulation of fluids in different parts of the body, generating swelling in the form of edema.

9. Cardiovascular disorders

The lack of nutrients weaken the heart muscle and blood vessels, which can lead to arrhythmias, hypotension, heart failure and death.

10. Decreased gastrointestinal function

Not having enough nutrients for the body to function properly too affects the digestive tract, making it unable to act properly. In fact, a person with prolonged malnutrition cannot begin to eat normal amounts of blow, having to adapt little by little in order for intestinal motility to regain its course habitual.

11. Impaired cognitive ability

Malnutrition also affects the nervous system to a great extent. At the cognitive level, it is common for alterations in cognitive ability to be generated, 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

The lack of nutrients affects the capacity for behavioral inhibition and facilitates attack / flight responses. Emotions surface more easily than usual. Problems of irritability, anxiety or depression are much more frequent.

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13. Affects respiratory capacity

It can generate problems at the level of 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, not being able to purify the blood or generate insulin and glucagon and altering the functioning of the digestive system.

16. Renal problems

The kidneys' ability to act as a filter for the blood and that allows 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 the nutrient deficit is the appearance of anemia, that is, of the decreased production of red blood cells derived from the lack of basic components such as iron or vitamins. It causes dizziness, fainting, headaches, arrhythmias, paleness, numbness and lack of blood supply in some parts of the body.

Malnutrition in childhood

So far we have talked about different effects of malnutrition in humans 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 more affectation it will generate in the subject. Difficulties due to lack of nutrients during development will cause it to be altered and that it is not reached at a rate or in a typical way, asking you to stay for life some aftermath.

Child malnutrition is one of the most serious, since it causes a slowdown in physical and intellectual development. For instance, growth usually stops at the level of weight and height and it is possible that psychomotor retardation and speech problems appear, as well as difficulties at the attention level. Ventral swelling and capillary problems also appear. Brain growth slows and atrophies, fewer glial cells, and myelination problems can occur.

Bibliographic references:

• Martorell, R. (2007). Effects of malnutrition on human health and development and effective strategies for its prevention. Public Health of Mexico, 49: 151.
• Smith, L and Haddad, L. (1999). Explaining Child Malnutrition in Developing Countries: ACross-Country Analysis. FCND discussion paper 1999 (60) IFPRI, Washington, D.C.
• Wisbaum, W. (2011). Child malnutrition. Causes, consequences and strategies for its prevention and treatment. UNICEF.