Category: Dietary diseases

According to the World Health Organization, every country in the world is affected by one or more forms of malnutrition, a broad term encompassing deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person's intake of energy and nutrients. This widespread issue underscores the critical link between diet and health, and the serious consequences that can arise from a nutritionally poor diet.

Kwashiorkor, a severe form of malnutrition, is not a contagious disease and does not spread between people. This dietary illness, therefore, falls under the category of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with poor nutrition being its primary underlying cause.

Globally, the World Health Organization reports that malnutrition in all its forms affects people in every country, encompassing undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient imbalances. To understand the severe health issues it causes, it is crucial to know that there is not a single answer to the question, "What is the disease due to malnutrition called?", but a range of conditions.

According to the World Health Organization, over 2 billion people worldwide suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. This article answers the question, 'What are the major deficiency diseases?' and explores the health issues that arise when essential nutrients are lacking in the diet.