What is the meaning of malnutrition in a sentence?

December 18, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition is a condition that encompasses a deficiency, excess, or imbalance of a person's energy and nutrient intake. In a sentence, it describes a state of poor nutrition that affects billions globally, proving it's not a rare or isolated issue.

Quick Summary

Malnutrition is a state of poor nutrition resulting from a deficiency, excess, or imbalance of nutrients. This guide explains how to use the term in sentences, outlining its various forms, including undernutrition and overnutrition. It also covers the causes and broader health impacts of this complex condition.

Key Points

Broad Definition: Malnutrition means a deficiency, excess, or imbalance of nutrients, not just a lack of food.
Multiple Forms: It includes undernutrition (wasting, stunting) and overnutrition (overweight, obesity).
Diverse Causes: Contributing factors range from poverty and food insecurity to chronic illnesses and social issues.
Global Health Concern: Malnutrition is a complex, global health challenge affecting people in all countries, with specific populations at higher risk.
Serious Consequences: Its effects can be severe and long-lasting, including impaired growth, weakened immunity, and increased risk of chronic diseases.
Prevention and Treatment: Prevention often involves education and improving access to nutritious food, while treatment varies based on the specific type of malnutrition.
Dual Burden: The coexistence of both undernutrition and overnutrition in the same communities or even individuals is known as the double burden of malnutrition.

Understanding the Meaning of Malnutrition in a Sentence

To effectively use the term "malnutrition" in a sentence, it's crucial to understand its broad definition, which goes beyond just under-eating. At its core, malnutrition signifies an improper balance of nutrients, whether due to too little food, too much food, or an incorrect mix of nutrients. The examples provided below illustrate how this complex idea can be conveyed simply and accurately.

Examples of Malnutrition in a Sentence

Here are some sentences demonstrating the correct use of the word malnutrition:

Chronic malnutrition: "Globally, a significant number of children under five years old suffer from chronic malnutrition, which results in stunted growth and long-term developmental issues."
Cause and effect: "The long-term effects of the famine led to widespread malnutrition across the population, causing physical frailty and increasing susceptibility to illness."
Connecting to disease: "Healthcare providers must screen for malnutrition in patients, as it can worsen outcomes for individuals recovering from or living with a serious illness, such as cancer or liver disease."
Addressing different forms: "It's possible for individuals in developed countries to experience malnutrition in the form of obesity, as an excess intake of calories often occurs alongside a deficiency in vital micronutrients."
In a comparative context: "The documentary highlighted the devastating consequences of malnutrition, contrasting scenes of acute wasting with the challenges of overnutrition in a different community."

The Dual Burden of Malnutrition

One of the most important aspects of understanding malnutrition is recognizing its dual nature. The term covers both insufficient and excessive nutrient intake, a phenomenon known as the 'double burden of malnutrition'.

Undernutrition: This is the form most people associate with the term. It includes wasting (low weight for height), stunting (low height for age), being underweight, and having micronutrient deficiencies. It is often caused by a lack of access to sufficient and nutritious food.
Overnutrition: This occurs when a person consumes an excess of calories, protein, or other nutrients. Overnutrition commonly leads to overweight and obesity, which in turn increases the risk of diet-related non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

Causes and Risk Factors

Malnutrition is a complex issue with numerous contributing factors that vary across different populations. Understanding the causes is essential for both prevention and treatment.

Poverty and Food Insecurity: Limited financial resources can prevent access to nutritious food, forcing reliance on cheaper, less healthy options.
Health Conditions: Chronic illnesses like Crohn's disease, cancer, and liver disease can interfere with appetite, nutrient absorption, or increase the body's energy needs.
Mental Health Disorders: Conditions such as depression, dementia, and eating disorders can negatively impact a person's desire or ability to eat.
Social and Mobility Issues: Frailty, reduced mobility, or social isolation can make shopping for and preparing food difficult, particularly for older adults.
Digestive Problems: Certain conditions can cause malabsorption, where the body cannot properly absorb nutrients from food, even with a balanced diet.

Undernutrition vs. Overnutrition: A Comparison


Feature	Undernutrition	Overnutrition
Definition	Insufficient intake of energy, protein, or other essential nutrients.	Excessive intake of energy and nutrients, leading to harmful effects.
Common Manifestations	Wasting (low weight-for-height), stunting (low height-for-age), underweight, and micronutrient deficiencies.	Overweight and obesity, excessive vitamin or mineral intake.
Typical Symptoms	Unintentional weight loss, fatigue, irritability, reduced appetite, and poor concentration.	Excessive weight gain, increased blood pressure, and insulin resistance.
Associated Health Risks	Weakened immune system, delayed wound healing, and impaired cognitive development, especially in children.	Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and other diet-related non-communicable diseases.
Global Prevalence	More prevalent in developing countries and in specific populations like children and the elderly.	On the rise globally, including in low- and middle-income countries, often co-existing with undernutrition.

Conclusion

In a sentence, malnutrition refers to any state of poor nutrition that can result from either a deficiency or an excess of nutrients. Its meaning is much broader than simple under-eating and encompasses a complex spectrum of conditions, from life-threatening wasting in children to obesity in adults. To use the term correctly, it is important to consider the context—be it linking it to a specific cause like poverty, describing a symptom in a patient, or highlighting its double burden on global health. Effective communication about this critical health issue begins with a precise and complete understanding of what malnutrition truly means. For further resources and information on global nutrition, the World Health Organization is an authoritative source.

Frequently Asked Questions

In a simple sentence, malnutrition means a person is not receiving the right balance of nutrients, whether from getting too little food, too much food, or a diet lacking in essential vitamins and minerals.

Yes, an obese person can be malnourished. Overnutrition, or the overconsumption of calories, can lead to obesity while the diet simultaneously lacks essential micronutrients like vitamins and minerals.

Malnutrition is the broader term covering any nutritional imbalance (deficiency or excess), while undernutrition is a specific type of malnutrition caused by not getting enough nutrients.

Early signs of malnutrition can include unintentional weight loss, reduced appetite, fatigue, and lack of interest in food. In children, it may manifest as faltering growth.

Malnutrition is diagnosed through physical observation, a review of diet and health history, and potentially blood tests to check for specific nutrient deficiencies.

Poverty contributes to malnutrition by limiting financial resources and access to affordable, nutritious foods, which often leads to diets high in cheap, calorie-dense but nutrient-poor items.

In children, long-term effects of malnutrition can include irreversible cognitive and physical development delays, stunted growth, weakened immunity, and an increased risk of chronic diseases later in life.