Question

Describe malnutrition, protein deficiency, and undernourishment.   Describe in detail how they affect the health and lives of humans.

Answer 1

Undernourishment means not getting enough nutrients. It is a condition where an individual is not taking enough nutrients that are required by the body. Protein deficiency means the lack of necessry proteins in the body that are responsible for various functions in the body. The severe condition of the undernourishment is said to be malnutrition. Malnutrition is a very severe condition which may cause severe symptoms. Malnutrition results from eating a diet that do no have essential proteins.
There are two types of malnutrition:
a)Protein energy malnutrition which results in marasmus(lack of proteins and calories) and kwashiorkor(lack of protein).
b)Dietary deficiency which is lack of iron,iodine and vitamins.
In females, If malnutrition occurs during pregnancy,it may result in permanent problems to the child including physical and mental development.
Malnutrition symptoms involve short height, thin body, very very poor enrgy, swollens body parts( legs and abdomen), less immunity- people with less immunity will often get infected by disease causing pathogens.
Lack of breasfeeding also results in malnutrition where it causes diseases such as pneumonia,malaria and measles.
Malnutrition is mainly due to poverty, where peple are not able to get minimum required protein containing foods.