Category: Disorders

Research shows that 30-50% of individuals with unexplained pica cravings for items like clay or ice have iron-deficiency anemia. This phenomenon, where a deficiency causes craving for clay, is known as geophagia and is a specific form of the eating disorder pica. It is a sign that the body is attempting to correct a nutritional imbalance, despite the ingested substance providing no real benefit.

According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition, encompassing both undernutrition and overnutrition, affects every country in the world. This fact highlights the urgent need to understand what is a disorder caused by a diet and how dietary choices profoundly impact human health.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly half of all deaths among children under five are linked to undernutrition. Protein or calorie malnutrition, also called protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), is a serious nutritional disorder resulting from an inadequate intake of protein and/or energy.

In 2017, it was estimated that nearly one in three people globally had at least one form of malnutrition, encompassing both undernutrition and excess nutrition. Understanding **what are the examples of nutritional disorders** is essential to recognize the wide range of health problems that can arise from an unbalanced diet, whether from a lack of nutrients or an oversupply.

Globally, more than 2 billion people are affected by one or more forms of malnutrition, including both undernutrition and overweight. Understanding **what is a nutritional disorder?** is essential, as these conditions arise from deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person's intake of energy and nutrients, profoundly affecting health and well-being.

Affecting over 30% of the world's population, iron deficiency anemia is, by far, the most common nutritional disorder globally. Often overlooked in its early stages, this condition can have profound and lasting impacts on health, development, and quality of life for millions of people worldwide.

According to a meta-analysis, pica is associated with 2.4 times greater odds of anemia and lower hemoglobin and zinc concentrations. Understanding **what deficiency causes pica** is crucial, as this compulsive eating of non-food items is often a symptom of underlying nutritional imbalances, most notably a severe lack of iron or zinc.