By fasuyi Adeyemi June 5 2018

Malnutrition is a condition that results from eating a diet in which nutrients are either not enough or are too much such that the diet causes health problem. It may involve calories , protein , carbohydrates, vitamins or minerals .
A nutritionist, Yemi Martin's a student of Rufus Giwa polytechnic Owo, Ondo State. when speaking with our correspondent said on monday. not enough nutrients is called undernutrition or under nourishment while too much is called overnutrition .

Undernutrition can lead to delayed growth or wasting, while a diet that provides too much food, but not necessarily balanced, leads to obesity.


According to the nutritionist , In many parts of the world, undernutrition results from a lack of food. In some cases, however, undernourishment may stem from a health condition, such as an eating disorder or a chronic illness that prevents the person from absorbing nutrients.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition is the gravest single threat to global public health. Globally, it contributes to 45 percent of deaths of children aged under 5 years.


The nutritionist Yemi Martin's HND one student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic said Undernutrition is when a person lacks nutrients because they do not consume enough food.
Poor diet may lead to a lack of vitamins , minerals, and other essential substances.
Too little protein can lead to kwashiorkor, symptoms of which include a distended abdomen.
A lack of vitamin C can result in scurvy.
Scurvy is rare in industrialized nations, but it can affect older people, those who consume excessive quantities of alcohol, and people who do not eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
Some infants and children who follow a limited diet for any reason may be prone to scurvy.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 462 million people worldwide are malnourished, and stunted development due to poor diet affects 159 million children globally.
Malnutrition during childhood can lead not only to long-term health problems but also to educational challenges and limited work opportunities in the future. Malnourished children often have smaller bodies when they grow up.
It can also slow recovery from wounds and illnesses, and it can complicate diseases such as measles, pneumonia, malaria , and diarrhea .
It can leave the body more susceptible to disease.
The nutritionist urged Nigerians to consume well balanced food and eat enough fruit and vegetables.

NAN.