Malnutrition

"Malnutrition | NHS inform Home Illnesses and conditions Symptoms and self-help Tests and treatments Healthy living Care, support and rights Scotlands Service Directory 0 Home Illnesses and conditions Nutritional Malnutrition Malnutrition Malnutrition means poor nutrition. Most commonly this is caused by not eating enough (undernutrition) or not eating enough of the right food to give your body the nutrients it needs. A balanced diet should provide enough nutrients like calories, protein and vitamins, to keep you healthy. Without this, you may not be getting all the nutrients you need and this can lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition can result in: unplanned weight loss muscle loss a low body mass index (BMI) vitamin and mineral deficiencies This can leave you feeling tired, weak and affect your ability to recover from an illness. Symptoms of malnutrition Malnutrition can be difficult to recognise. It can happen very gradually, which can make it very difficult to spot in the early stages. Common signs and symptoms of malnutrition include: loss of appetite and lack of interest in food or fluids unplanned weight loss  this might cause clothing, rings, watches or dentures to become loose tiredness or low energy levels reduced ability to perform everyday tasks like showering, getting dressed or cooking reduced muscle strength  for example, not being able to walk as far or as fast as usual changes in mood which might cause feelings of lethargy and depression poor concentration poor growth in children increased risk of infection, recurrent infections, taking longer to recover and poor wound healing difficulty keeping warm dizziness Speak to your GP if: you have any of the symptoms of malnutrition you notice a drop in weight or youve lost weight without trying Conditions that cause malnutrition Sometimes, medical conditions cause your body to need more nutrients. Some medical conditions can lead to your body being unable to absorb or use nutrients. These may include: cancer and liver disease that can cause a lack of appetite, persistent pain or nausea COPD , pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema, which cause your body to need more nutrients but can reduce your appetite mental health conditions, like depression or schizophrenia , which may affect your ability to look after yourself Crohns disease , ulcerative colitis or cystic fibrosis that disrupt your bodys ability to digest food or absorb nutrients burns, fractures and post major surgery, due to increased demand for nutrients dementia  people with dementia may be unable to communicate their needs, may use up a lot of calories pacing or may experience a loss of appetite dysphagia  a condition that makes swallowing difficult or painful persistent vomiting or diarrhoea Some types and combinations of medication can increase your risk of developing malnutrition. Always check your medicines information and speak to a healthcare professional for advice if you have a concern. Do not stop taking your medication without advice from a healthcare professional. Other causes of malnutrition Physical, social and ageing issues can also cause malnutrition. Physical issues Physical issues can contribute to malnutrition. For example: if your teeth are in a poor condition, if your dentures do not fit, or if you have a sore mouth, eating can be difficult or painful you may lose your appetite as a result of losing your sense of smell and taste you may have a physical disability or other physical impairment that makes it difficult for you to cook or shop for food yourself Social factors Social issues that can contribute to malnutrition include: living alone and being socially isolated having limited knowledge about nutrition or cooking reduced mobility alcohol or drug use low income or poverty reliance on food banks Ageing As we get older we might become more likely to experience malnutrition. This might be because of how we feel, and physical and social factors. The risk also increases because were more likely to have one or more medical conditions as we get older. Diagnosing malnutrition A healthcare professional can assess you for malnutrition using a screening tool like Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) . Screen yourself for malnutrition Treating malnutrition If youve lost weight or your appetite is poor, you can make simple changes to your meals, snacks and drinks to help treat malnutrition. Choosing nutrient-dense food and drinks can help improve your calorie intake. This might not be suitable for everyone, especially those with other conditions like dysphagia. Ask your GP, dietitian or nurse for further advice if youre unsure. You should speak to a healthcare professional if youve had to limit the fat and sugar you eat in the past due to a health condition like high cholesterol or diabetes. Ways to increase your calories Try the following ideas to help you to increase the amount of calories and protein in your diet. Do eat little and often  3 small meals a day with 2-3 snacks in-between meals include protein like meat, fish, chicken, eggs, beans or lentils in each meal add high calorie ingredients like full cream milk, cheese, butter, ghee, olive oil and cream to meals and drinks include puddings after your lunch and dinner like creamy yoghurts, custards, rice pudding, milk puddings or ice-cream try ready meals if you dont feel like cooking choose nourishing milky drinks like malted drinks, hot chocolate, milky coffee and milkshakes choose high sugar drinks like fruit juice, smoothies, fizzy drinks or squash (you can also add egg powder to juice to increase its nutrients) try including 1 pint of full cream milk each day  you can fortify (add extra nutrients to) this by adding 4 tablespoons of dried milk powder  and use this in drinks, cooking, cereals and puddings Dont do not have drinks just before meals because this can make you feel fuller quicker do not choose low fat, sugar-free, diet foods and drinks  for example skimmed milk If youre using vegan alternatives to cheese, butter, cream or milk, try to choose the highest calorie option. How to add extra nutrients to milk Watch this video to find out how to fortify your milk with milk powder. You can then use this instead of your usual milk. How to add extra nutrients to juice Watch this video to find out how to fortify your juice using egg powder. Easy ways to fortify your food There are ways you can use every day food and drinks to fortify (add extra nutrients to) your food. Butter Add extra butter to: sandwiches or toast mashed potatoes vegetables sauces baked potatoes snacks like pancakes, crumpets and scones biscuits or crackers Sugar, jam and honey Add sugar, jam or honey to: puddings hot drinks milkshakes or smoothies glazed vegetables creamy yogurts fruit porridge or cereal Cream, chocolate spread, peanut butter or nuts Add cream, chocolate spread, peanut butter or nuts to: porridge fruit sauces soups smoothies or milkshakes snacks (toast, pancakes, crumpets, scones, waffles, rice cakes) ice cream or puddings Vegetarian and vegan food If you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, you can use the following foods to fortify your diet: nut butters vegan cheese vegan cream dairy free milks like oat, soya and nut milks (try to choose the sweetened options that provide the most calories) hemp and pea protein powders avocado plant based spreads Try to choose the highest calorie and protein options available. Snacks Try to eat high calorie and protein snacks like: crackers or oatcakes with cheese, pate, hummus or avocado crumpets, scones and pancakes with butter and jam thick and creamy yoghurts soya yoghurts or desserts milk jelly, chocolate pots and mousses custard, trifle and rice pudding pots dried fruit nuts and seeds cereal bar and flapjacks mini pork pie, sausage roll, scotch egg and spring rolls chocolate, biscuits, pastries and cakes crisps with dip fruit with chocolate spread or peanut butter Food fortification video Watch this video for ideas of how to add extra nutrients to your food. The British Dietetic Association (BDA) Malnutrition factsheet provides more useful practical advice. Watch this video on Vimeo for more tips on how to fortify your food Oral nutritional supplements Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are a range of liquid and powder products that help support better nutrition. They contain calories, protein, vitamins and minerals to help increase your intake. Theyre designed to be taken alongside your diet and the food first advice above to promote progress with your weight. Tube feeding (enteral feeding) Depending on how severe your symptoms are, your healthcare professional might recommend a feeding tube. There are different types of tubes. Which one is best for you depends on your diagnosis and symptoms. The most common types of feeding tube include: nasogastric  through your nose and into your stomach nasojejunal  though your nose and further into your digestive tract percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)  a tube is placed directly into the stomach via your abdomen Depending on your condition alternative routes of nutrition may be considered. Source:\r\n                                        The Scottish Dietetic Prescribing Support Group - Opens in new browser window Last updated: 21 November 2023 How can we improve this page? 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