What Percent of America Is Malnourished?

January 5, 2026 •

2 min read

According to a September 2024 USDA report on 2023 data, approximately 13.5% of US households experienced food insecurity, revealing a complex picture of what percent of America is malnourished. However, modern malnutrition encompasses more than just food scarcity; it also includes overnutrition and nutrient deficiencies, affecting people across all income levels and body types.

Quick Summary

This article examines the prevalence of malnutrition in America, moving beyond simple hunger to include food insecurity, undernutrition, and overnutrition. We analyze recent USDA data, explore the complex causes, and detail the different forms of malnutrition affecting Americans, from low-income families to those with chronic health conditions.

Key Points

Food Insecurity vs. Malnutrition: In 2023, 13.5% of US households experienced food insecurity, which is a key contributor to malnutrition, but not the whole story.
Malnutrition's Multiple Faces: Malnutrition in the US includes undernutrition (scarcity), overnutrition (excess calories leading to obesity), and micronutrient deficiencies.
Overnutrition is a Major Issue: Many Americans are overfed but undernourished, consuming excess calories from processed foods while lacking essential vitamins and minerals.
Systemic Disparities: Food insecurity disproportionately affects low-income families and racial and ethnic minorities, with rates more than double for Black and Latinx households compared to White households.
Vulnerable Populations: Children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic illnesses are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition due to unique nutritional needs and barriers.
Long-term Health Consequences: Malnutrition can cause serious health problems, including impaired immunity, developmental delays in children, and chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
A Comprehensive Approach is Needed: Addressing malnutrition requires improving food access, increasing nutritional education, and tackling the systemic socioeconomic issues that create unequal health outcomes.

Defining Malnutrition: Beyond the Hunger Stereotype

While many people associate malnutrition with severe hunger, the term is far broader, encompassing deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person's intake of energy and/or nutrients. In a developed nation like the United States, malnutrition is not solely a problem of starvation but a multi-faceted issue that includes undernutrition, micronutrient-related malnutrition, and overweight/obesity.

The USDA's 2023 Report on Food Insecurity

Food insecurity, a significant indicator of potential malnutrition, affected about 13.5% of US households (47.4 million Americans) in 2023, an increase from previous years. Economic factors and the end of pandemic-era support contributed to this, impacting families' ability to access adequate and nutritious food.

Overnutrition: The Other Side of Malnutrition

The most prevalent form of malnutrition in the U.S. is overnutrition, leading to overweight and obesity. This is recognized by the World Health Organization as malnutrition due to the health risks of excessive calorie consumption. Overnutrition often coexists with micronutrient deficiencies as processed foods high in calories can lack essential nutrients, contributing to diet-related diseases.

Groups Disproportionately Affected

Certain groups in the U.S. face higher risks of malnutrition due to systemic issues and health vulnerabilities. These include low-income households, children (especially vulnerable to undernutrition), racial and ethnic minorities (with significantly higher food insecurity rates for Black and Latinx households), seniors, and individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

The Health Consequences of Malnutrition

Malnutrition has wide-ranging and severe impacts on physical, economic, and social well-being. It can weaken the immune system, delay healing, and impair development in children (undernutrition), while increasing the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes (overnutrition). Economically, malnutrition increases healthcare costs and reduces productivity.

Addressing the Issue

Combating malnutrition in America requires a multi-pronged strategy. Key approaches include improving access to nutritious foods through federal programs and local support, increasing nutritional education, implementing targeted interventions for at-risk populations, and addressing the underlying socioeconomic causes like poverty and inequality.

Comparison of Undernutrition and Overnutrition in the US


Feature	Undernutrition	Overnutrition
Definition	Insufficient intake of energy or nutrients	Excessive intake of energy or specific nutrients
Primary Cause	Food insecurity, poverty, chronic illness	Sedentary lifestyles, high-calorie food access, stress
Associated Condition	Wasting, stunting, micronutrient deficiency	Overweight, obesity, metabolic syndrome
At-Risk Populations	Low-income individuals, children, elderly	All income levels, sedentary individuals
Health Impacts	Weakened immune system, developmental delays	Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer

Conclusion: A Hidden Health Crisis

Determining an exact percentage for how much of America is malnourished is complex due to the varying forms of the issue. While USDA data indicates millions face food insecurity, a form of undernutrition, the broader definition encompassing overnutrition and nutrient deficiencies suggests the true figure is likely much higher and impacts a wide range of the population, particularly vulnerable groups. Addressing this hidden health crisis requires a comprehensive understanding and holistic solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Overnutrition, or excessive calorie intake leading to overweight and obesity, is the most common type of malnutrition in the US, often coexisting with micronutrient deficiencies.

Children in food-insecure households are at high risk for undernutrition, which can lead to weakened immune systems, developmental delays, and long-term health problems.

Yes, it is possible to be overweight while still being malnourished, a condition often caused by consuming excess calories from nutrient-poor foods, which results in micronutrient deficiencies.

According to a USDA report, 13.5% of U.S. households, or 47.4 million Americans, experienced food insecurity in 2023.

Food insecurity disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities, single-parent households, and individuals with lower incomes.

Yes, many chronic illnesses can lead to malnutrition by affecting appetite, altering nutrient absorption, or increasing the body's need for calories.

Malnutrition can lead to serious, and sometimes irreversible, health issues, including stunted growth in children, heart disease, diabetes, and impaired cognitive function.

No, malnutrition can affect individuals across all income levels due to factors like poor dietary habits, lack of nutritional education, sedentary lifestyles, and chronic illnesses.

Solutions include expanding federal nutrition programs, improving access to healthy foods, increasing nutritional education, and addressing the systemic socioeconomic issues that contribute to food insecurity.

You can support local food banks, volunteer at community food programs, and advocate for policies that improve food access and nutritional support for vulnerable populations.

The government addresses malnutrition through programs like SNAP, WIC, and school meal programs, as well as by conducting research and monitoring food security trends via agencies like the USDA.

The pandemic significantly worsened food insecurity rates, with many families struggling to afford enough food, and the expiration of pandemic-era aid exacerbated the issue.