Understanding the Risk Factors That May Lead to Malnutrition

October 23, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the World Health Organization, addressing all forms of malnutrition is one of the greatest global health challenges. Understanding the risk factors that may lead to malnutrition is a crucial first step toward prevention and improving nutritional outcomes for at-risk populations worldwide.

Quick Summary

This article outlines the significant risk factors leading to malnutrition, covering medical conditions, socioeconomic hurdles, age-specific vulnerabilities, and lifestyle habits. It provides a detailed overview of the various causes to promote better identification and intervention strategies.

Key Points

Medical Conditions: Chronic diseases like cancer, COPD, and liver disease, as well as mental health conditions like depression and dementia, can significantly increase the risk of malnutrition by affecting appetite or nutrient absorption.
Socioeconomic Factors: Poverty, limited income, and food insecurity are major contributors to malnutrition, particularly in low-income populations and food-insecure households.
Age-Specific Risks: Infants and young children face risks from inadequate feeding practices and low birth weight, while older adults are vulnerable due to reduced appetite, mobility issues, and social isolation.
Lifestyle and Habits: Alcohol and drug abuse, certain medications, and very restrictive diets can interfere with nutrient absorption and intake, increasing malnutrition risk.
Oral and Digestive Health: Problems with teeth, chewing, or swallowing, along with digestive disorders like Crohn's and celiac disease, can prevent a person from consuming or absorbing necessary nutrients effectively.
Access to Resources: Beyond food, factors like access to clean water, proper sanitation, and nutritional education are vital for preventing infectious diseases that can exacerbate malnutrition.

Malnutrition is a complex condition encompassing undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient imbalances, with serious health, economic, and social impacts. It is not solely caused by food shortages but is often the result of interwoven medical, social, and economic factors. By examining these multifaceted risk factors, we can better understand who is most vulnerable and develop targeted strategies for prevention.

Medical and Health-Related Risk Factors

Underlying medical and health conditions are significant drivers of malnutrition, impacting appetite, nutrient absorption, and the body's overall nutritional needs.

Chronic Diseases

Long-term illnesses can significantly impact nutritional status by altering the body's needs or interfering with consumption. Examples include cancer, liver disease, COPD, and kidney failure, which can cause appetite loss, nausea, increased energy expenditure, or issues with nutrient absorption and metabolism.

Mental and Cognitive Conditions

Psychological and neurological factors can impair a person's ability or desire to eat, shop, or prepare food. Conditions like dementia, Alzheimer's, and depression can lead to forgetting to eat, resistance to feeding help, appetite loss, and lack of motivation. Eating disorders are also direct risk factors.

Digestive and Oral Health Problems

Issues affecting the digestive system or mouth can prevent the body from getting adequate nutrition. Malabsorption disorders (like Crohn's or celiac disease), dysphagia (swallowing difficulties), and dental problems (such as poorly fitting dentures or pain) make eating challenging or hinder nutrient absorption.

Medications and Substance Use

Certain medications and substances can negatively affect nutritional intake. Side effects like nausea or decreased appetite, increased metabolism, or interference with nutrient absorption are possible medication-related risks. Excessive alcohol consumption can damage organs, interfere with nutrient absorption, and suppress appetite.

Socioeconomic and Environmental Risks

Factors beyond individual health often create systemic barriers to adequate nutrition. Poverty and low income are significant causes, limiting access to nutrient-dense foods. Food insecurity, limited access to nutritious foods in 'food deserts,' poor sanitation, and unsafe water also increase risk by causing illness or limiting healthy choices. A lack of nutritional education can also contribute.

Age-Specific Vulnerabilities

Nutritional risks vary depending on life stage.

Children and Infants

Low birth weight is a significant predictor of severe acute malnutrition. Poor infant feeding practices, such as inadequate breastfeeding or inappropriate complementary feeding, are major risk factors. Large family size can also strain resources in some contexts.

Older Adults

Physiological changes like decreased metabolism and changes in taste/smell, social isolation, reduced mobility, and chronic health issues increase malnutrition risk in older adults. These factors can lead to decreased appetite, difficulty shopping or cooking, and reduced motivation to eat.

Comparative Risks: Undernutrition vs. Overnutrition

Understanding distinct risk factors for undernutrition and overnutrition, both forms of malnutrition, is important.


Risk Factor Category	Undernutrition	Overnutrition
Socioeconomic	Poverty, food insecurity, food deserts	Access to inexpensive, energy-dense foods in developed regions
Behavioral/Lifestyle	Chronic diseases, mental health disorders, substance abuse, restrictive dieting	Sedentary lifestyles, stress, binge-eating, excessive supplement use
Physiological	Chronic diseases increasing metabolic needs or impairing absorption	Conditions slowing metabolism (hypothyroidism), hormonal imbalances
Demographic	Infants, young children, pregnant women, older adults, ill individuals	Often linked to rising incomes and urbanization

What to Do if You are at Risk

Early identification and intervention are crucial. Steps include consulting a healthcare provider for assessment and guidance, seeking nutritional counseling from a registered dietitian, addressing underlying mental health issues, utilizing support systems like meal delivery services, and improving food access and preparation skills.

Conclusion

Identifying the risk factors that may lead to malnutrition is vital for proactive health management. Recognizing the interplay of medical, socioeconomic, and age-related factors enables individuals and healthcare systems to address vulnerabilities. A holistic approach, including ensuring access to nutritious food, quality healthcare, and social support, is necessary to combat malnutrition effectively and build a healthier future.

World Food Programme: Ending Malnutrition

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, it is possible to be overweight or obese and still be malnourished. This is known as overnutrition and occurs when a person consumes excess calories but lacks sufficient vitamins and minerals from their diet, leading to nutrient deficiencies despite a high body weight.

Poverty is the leading cause of undernutrition in low-, middle-, and high-income countries. It is also the most common cause of food insecurity, limiting people's ability to afford enough nutritious food.

Mental health conditions like depression can cause a loss of appetite and a lack of interest in food, leading to reduced dietary intake over time. Severe cognitive decline, such as in dementia, can also cause individuals to forget to eat.

Older adults are at risk due to several factors, including decreased appetite and sense of taste or smell, dental problems, social isolation, reduced mobility that affects shopping and cooking, and chronic illnesses that impact nutrition.

Some medications can cause side effects like nausea or reduced appetite, while others can interfere with the body's ability to absorb certain nutrients. These effects can significantly decrease food intake and nutritional status.

No, malnutrition is a global problem that affects every country. While undernutrition is more prevalent in developing nations, undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies can occur in developed countries, often alongside overnutrition.

The first 1,000 days of life, from pregnancy to age 2, is a critical period for growth and development. Optimizing nutrition during this window is the most cost-effective way to prevent malnutrition and its long-term, irreversible effects on a child's development.

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to malnutrition in several ways: it suppresses appetite, contains empty calories, damages the liver, and interferes with the absorption and use of essential nutrients like magnesium, zinc, and certain vitamins.