Category: Medical terms

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person's intake of energy and/or nutrients. A lack of any class of food, leading to a deficiency of nutrients, is commonly called undernutrition, a major form of malnutrition. This can have severe consequences, impacting health, development, and overall well-being.

Affecting up to 20% of hospitalized patients, hyponatremia is a common electrolyte imbalance caused by excessive water intake, which dilutes the body's sodium concentration. The medical term for the underlying symptom of abnormal or excessive thirst is polydipsia, which can lead to the dangerous condition of water intoxication.

Scientific research shows that the human body cannot produce certain vital fats, making them an essential part of our diet. In medical terms, the full form of EFA is Essential Fatty Acids, which are crucial for numerous physiological functions, including brain health, inflammation regulation, and cell membrane integrity.

Medically, the loss of appetite is called anorexia, but when it is a severe eating disorder, it is referred to as anorexia nervosa. However, refusal to eat called by various other names depending on the root cause, which can range from sensory issues to psychological trauma.

Derived from the Greek word *marasmos*, meaning 'wasting away,' marasmus is a severe form of malnutrition characterized by a significant loss of body weight and muscle tissue. Understanding what is marasmus derived from provides a direct insight into the condition's primary clinical symptom and its devastating effects on the human body.

According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition in all its forms affects one in three people globally. Understanding **what is the medical term for imbalanced nutrition** is the first step toward recognizing this widespread health issue, which can manifest as either underconsumption or overconsumption of essential nutrients.

A temporary loss of appetite can accompany many illnesses and typically resolves on its own. However, when prolonged, what is the medical term for lack of eating? It is anorexia, a condition that can have numerous underlying causes and lead to serious nutritional deficiencies.

According to the World Health Organization, nearly half of deaths among children under 5 years of age are linked to undernutrition. So, what is a lack of food intake called, and how does this condition affect people of all ages? The answer depends on the severity and underlying cause of the issue.

Worldwide, an estimated 149 million children under five are affected by stunting, a form of undernutrition, highlighting the global scale of poor nutrition. Understanding the different medical terms is crucial for grasping the full scope of what is another medical term for malnutrition.