Which of the following can be a cause of malnutrition? An in-depth look at dietary, medical, and environmental factors

October 26, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person's intake of energy and nutrients. Therefore, the question, Which of the following can be a cause of malnutrition?, has a complex answer encompassing social, economic, medical, and environmental factors.

Quick Summary

Malnutrition is caused by various intersecting issues, including inadequate diets, underlying health problems, and socioeconomic challenges. The condition can manifest as undernutrition, overnutrition, or specific micronutrient deficiencies, impacting overall health and well-being.

Key Points

Food Insecurity: A primary cause of undernutrition, where a lack of financial resources or availability prevents access to sufficient, nutritious food.
Underlying Health Conditions: Chronic diseases, malabsorption disorders, and increased metabolic needs from infections can all lead to malnutrition, regardless of diet.
Poor Dietary Choices: Consuming an unbalanced diet, particularly one high in processed foods and low in essential nutrients, is a cause of both undernutrition and overnutrition.
Socioeconomic and Environmental Factors: Poverty, poor sanitation, lack of education, and environmental disasters contribute significantly to the global burden of malnutrition.
Mental Health: Mental health conditions like depression and eating disorders can negatively impact appetite and eating habits, leading to poor nutrition.

Understanding the broad scope of malnutrition

Malnutrition is not a single condition but a broad term covering three main states: undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient-related malnutrition. While many associate malnutrition with hunger and starvation, overconsumption of nutrients can also lead to serious health problems. Combating malnutrition requires understanding this complexity, which means examining the wide array of potential causes.

Inadequate diet and poor nutritional choices

A primary cause of malnutrition is not consuming enough of the right nutrients. This can be due to insufficient food quantity or poor quality. Food insecurity, often linked to poverty, is a major factor, especially in low-income regions. In some areas, access to cheap, nutrient-poor processed foods contributes to overnutrition alongside micronutrient deficiencies. Poor eating habits, such as diets high in processed foods and lacking fruits and vegetables, can lead to both. Relying on a single staple food can result in specific deficiencies. For infants and young children, inadequate feeding practices are significant causes.

Underlying health conditions

Certain medical issues can hinder the body's ability to absorb, use, or retain nutrients, even with a balanced diet.

Gastrointestinal Disorders: Conditions like Crohn's and celiac disease can interfere with nutrient absorption.
Chronic Diseases: Illnesses such as cancer or kidney failure can increase nutrient needs or decrease appetite.
Mental Health Disorders: Conditions like depression and eating disorders can disrupt eating habits.
Increased Metabolic Needs: Infections or hyperthyroidism can raise caloric requirements.
Medication Side Effects: Some medicines can affect appetite or nutrient metabolism.

Socioeconomic and environmental factors

Systemic issues also contribute to malnutrition.

Environmental Disasters: Events like droughts disrupt food supply.
Poor Sanitation: Inadequate sanitation can lead to infections that hinder nutrient absorption.
Lack of Education: Limited nutritional knowledge is a factor.
Limited Mobility and Social Isolation: These can affect older adults' ability to obtain and prepare food.
Conflicts: War can destroy food systems and disrupt aid.

Comparison of undernutrition vs. overnutrition causes


Feature	Undernutrition Causes	Overnutrition Causes
Dietary Intake	Insufficient intake of calories and/or nutrients.	Excessive intake of calories and certain nutrients, particularly fats and sugars.
Nutrient Quality	Lacking variety, often relying on one staple food.	High intake of energy-dense, nutrient-poor processed foods.
Socioeconomic Status	More common in low-income households with limited access to food.	Often seen in areas with easier access to cheap, unhealthy food options, even in low-income populations.
Health Conditions	Chronic infections, malabsorption disorders, diseases like cancer or AIDS increase metabolic needs or decrease appetite.	Sedentary lifestyle, hormonal imbalances (e.g., hypothyroidism), or genetic predisposition.
Contributing Behaviors	Eating disorders like anorexia; mental health issues like depression.	Binge eating disorder, anxiety, depression; sedentary lifestyle.

Holistic approaches to prevention and treatment

Addressing malnutrition requires a multi-faceted approach, including improving food security and tackling health issues. Effective action often involves governmental policy, community support, and education. Strategies include strengthening food security, promoting nutritional education, supporting vulnerable groups, integrating nutritional screening into healthcare, improving sanitation, providing fortified foods and supplements, and addressing psychological factors.

Conclusion

Malnutrition is a complex global challenge with numerous interconnected causes. The answer to which of the following can be a cause of malnutrition? includes a wide range of issues, from lack of food to metabolic disorders and psychological problems. Recognizing that the problem extends beyond hunger to include overnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies is key. By addressing dietary, health, socioeconomic, and environmental factors holistically, communities and individuals can work toward a healthier future. For more information on strategies for ending malnutrition, visit the World Food Programme website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, it is possible to be overweight or obese and be malnourished. This happens when an individual consumes excess calories, often from highly processed, energy-dense foods, but does not get enough essential vitamins and minerals.

Poverty contributes to malnutrition by limiting access to nutritious food. Low-income individuals may not be able to afford a varied diet, instead relying on cheaper, less-nutritious food options, increasing the risk of undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.

Infectious diseases can cause malnutrition by increasing the body's nutrient needs, decreasing appetite, or causing nutrient loss through symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting. This creates a vicious cycle where malnutrition weakens the immune system, making a person more susceptible to infection.

Yes, older adults are at a higher risk of malnutrition due to factors such as reduced appetite, mobility issues that affect shopping and cooking, dental problems, and chronic diseases. Loneliness and social isolation can also decrease motivation to eat.

Long-term consequences of malnutrition can be severe, especially if it occurs early in life. They can include permanent physical and intellectual developmental delays, weakened immune systems, and a higher risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes later in life.

Mental health conditions like depression, dementia, and eating disorders can significantly impact a person's eating habits. They can lead to a loss of appetite, an inability to prepare food, or disordered eating patterns, all of which contribute to malnutrition.

No, malnutrition is a global problem and can affect people in every country, both developed and developing. Causes vary depending on the location, with poverty and lack of access playing a large role in developing nations, while poor dietary choices and chronic disease contribute in developed ones.