Who is at risk for poor nutrition?: Identifying vulnerable populations

October 13, 2025 •

5 min read

According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition in all its forms remains one of the greatest global health challenges, encompassing undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies. Understanding who is at risk for poor nutrition? is a critical first step toward prevention and intervention, impacting individuals across every age group and circumstance.

Quick Summary

This article examines the diverse populations vulnerable to malnutrition, exploring the physiological, psychological, and socioeconomic factors that increase risk across the lifespan. Key demographics addressed include children, older adults, chronically ill individuals, and those with limited resources or eating disorders.

Key Points

Age is a Major Factor: Both infants and older adults are highly vulnerable to malnutrition due to their distinct physiological needs and common barriers to adequate food intake.
Chronic Illness Heightens Risk: Many chronic diseases, like cancer and gastrointestinal disorders, and their treatments directly interfere with appetite, absorption, and the body's energy needs.
Socioeconomic Status is a Key Determinant: Poverty, food insecurity, and limited access to nutritious food disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and drive malnutrition worldwide.
Mental Health Affects Diet: Conditions such as depression, social isolation, and eating disorders can severely disrupt normal eating patterns and lead to malnutrition.
Malnutrition Encompasses More Than Undernutrition: Individuals can suffer from poor nutrition through undernutrition, overnutrition, or deficiencies in specific micronutrients, even if they are not visibly underweight.
Early Intervention is Critical: Timely identification and comprehensive support, addressing both nutritional and psychological needs, are vital for effective recovery and preventing long-term complications.

Understanding the Spectrum of Poor Nutrition

Poor nutrition, or malnutrition, is not limited to a single issue but includes undernutrition, overnutrition, and specific vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Anyone can be affected, but certain populations face heightened risks due to a combination of physiological, medical, and environmental factors. Recognizing these risks is essential for timely intervention and promoting better health outcomes.

Children and Infants

Children are particularly susceptible to poor nutrition due to their rapid growth and higher nutrient demands. Undernutrition during early development can lead to long-term cognitive and physical impairment. The first 1,000 days of life, from conception to a child's second birthday, are a critical window for optimal nutrition. Infants may experience poor feeding due to premature birth, infections, or congenital issues, requiring careful monitoring.

Key risks for children include:

Stunting: Low height for age, a result of chronic or recurrent undernutrition.
Wasting: Low weight for height, often indicating recent, severe weight loss due to illness or inadequate food intake.
Micronutrient deficiencies: Lack of essential vitamins and minerals like iron or vitamin A, which can threaten their development.
Overweight and Obesity: Poor quality, high-calorie, and low-nutrient diets can lead to overnutrition, with increased risk for long-term health issues.

Older Adults

Malnutrition is a common problem among older adults, driven by a variety of factors. It can impair immune function, increase the risk of falls and fractures, and lead to longer recovery times from illness or surgery. Weight loss is not an inevitable part of aging and often signals underlying problems.

Factors that affect nutrition in the elderly include:

Physiological changes: A diminished sense of taste and smell, slower metabolism, and reduced appetite can lower food intake.
Chronic health conditions: Diseases like dementia, cancer, or gastrointestinal issues can affect appetite and nutrient absorption.
Psychological factors: Depression and social isolation can lead to a lack of motivation to eat or cook.
Mobility and practical challenges: Limited mobility or a low income can make it difficult to shop for and prepare nutritious meals.
Polypharmacy: The use of multiple medications can affect appetite, taste, and nutrient absorption.

Individuals with Chronic Illnesses

Chronic diseases significantly increase the risk of poor nutrition. The illness itself can alter the body's need for nutrients, while symptoms or treatments can interfere with eating.

Conditions that elevate risk include:

Cancer and its treatment: Cancer and chemotherapy can cause nausea, appetite loss, and changes in taste, leading to weight loss.
Gastrointestinal disorders: Conditions such as Crohn's disease or inflammatory bowel disease impair the body's ability to absorb nutrients.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): This condition increases a person's energy needs but can also reduce their appetite.
Kidney or Liver Disease: These can require very specific dietary restrictions that, if not managed correctly, can lead to deficiencies.
Diabetes: Poor dietary habits can exacerbate diabetes, leading to complications like cardiovascular disease.

People Facing Socioeconomic Challenges

Socioeconomic status is a primary determinant of nutritional health, with poverty and food insecurity being major drivers of malnutrition.

Low income: Limited financial resources often force individuals to purchase cheaper, energy-dense, but nutrient-poor foods.
Food deserts: Living in an area with limited access to affordable, healthy food options (such as fresh fruits and vegetables) is a significant barrier.
Education: Lower literacy rates, particularly among mothers, have been linked to higher rates of malnutrition in children.

Individuals with Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions with severe physical consequences, including profound malnutrition. Conditions like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) all disrupt nutritional intake.

Anorexia Nervosa: Characterized by extreme caloric restriction, it leads to severe deficiencies impacting every organ system, from brain function to bone density.
Bulimia Nervosa: The binge-purge cycle interferes with nutrient absorption and creates electrolyte imbalances.
ARFID: While not driven by body image issues, the restrictive eating patterns of ARFID can still lead to significant nutritional deficiencies.

Comparison of Nutritional Risks: Children vs. Older Adults


Factor	Children and Infants	Older Adults
Energy Needs	High due to rapid growth and development.	May be lower overall, but nutrient density is crucial as appetite often declines.
Key Deficiencies	Vulnerable to deficiencies in iron, vitamin A, and other micronutrients that impair growth and immunity.	Susceptible to low intake of vitamin D, calcium, and protein, impacting bone and muscle mass.
Physiological Changes	Developing digestive and immune systems; may have difficulty feeding or absorbing nutrients due to illness.	Changes in taste, smell, swallowing, and metabolism can reduce food enjoyment and intake.
Psycho-Social Factors	Dependence on caregivers; parental education and household income are major influences.	Social isolation, depression, grief, and lack of motivation to cook or eat.

Prevention and Action

Given the wide array of risk factors, preventing poor nutrition requires a multi-faceted approach. For at-risk populations, strategies range from public health initiatives to personalized medical and psychological interventions. Early identification and support are crucial for managing nutritional health. The World Health Organization and other public health bodies emphasize a life-course approach, addressing nutrition from infancy through older adulthood to maximize long-term health benefits.

Conclusion

No single group is exclusively at risk for poor nutrition, as vulnerability stems from a complex interplay of age, health status, and environment. Infants, older adults, those with chronic illnesses, individuals with eating disorders, and low-income populations face distinct challenges. Raising awareness, improving access to nutritious food, and providing targeted medical and social support are vital steps in mitigating these risks and promoting a healthier, more nourished society. For additional information on nutritional guidelines, the World Health Organization offers extensive resources on its website.

Signs of Undernutrition:
- Unintentional weight loss.
- Fatigue and low energy levels.
- Apathy or irritability.
- Increased frequency of illness or infection.
- Poor wound healing.
- In children, stunted growth or low weight for age.
Signs of Overnutrition:
- Overweight or obesity.
- High blood pressure.
- Elevated blood sugar or insulin resistance.
- Increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Comparison of Common Micronutrient Deficiencies


Micronutrient	Who is at risk?	Key Dietary Sources	Potential Health Impacts
Iron	Infants, menstruating women, pregnant women, vegetarians, and vegans.	Heme iron from meat and fish; non-heme iron from leafy greens, lentils, and fortified cereals.	Anemia, fatigue, impaired immune function, developmental delays.
Vitamin B12	Older adults, vegans, and those with malabsorption disorders.	Animal products (meat, milk, eggs), fortified foods.	Nerve damage, impaired brain function, anemia.
Vitamin D	Older adults, those with limited sun exposure, and individuals with dark skin.	Sunlight exposure, fatty fish, fortified dairy and cereals.	Bone loss, muscle weakness, and increased fracture risk.

Additional Resources

For more information on global nutrition and health, consult the World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/health-topics/nutrition

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, absolutely. Malnutrition can include deficiencies in specific vitamins and minerals, even if a person consumes excess calories. This often happens with diets high in processed, energy-dense foods that lack overall nutritional value.

Chronic illnesses can affect nutritional status in multiple ways, including altering metabolic needs, causing appetite loss due to pain or nausea, and interfering with the body's ability to absorb nutrients.

Infants are at high risk for undernutrition, which can lead to stunting (low height for age) and wasting (low weight for height), especially if not breastfed optimally or given inadequate complementary foods.

Older adults face risks including reduced appetite, difficulty swallowing, decreased taste and smell, social isolation, and chronic diseases. These factors can lead to unintentional weight loss and nutrient deficiencies.

Socioeconomic factors like poverty and low education can cause poor nutrition by limiting access to affordable, healthy food options. This may result in diets rich in low-nutrient, high-calorie foods.

Eating disorders involve abnormal eating patterns, such as severe restriction or binging and purging, which severely disrupt the body's intake and absorption of essential nutrients, leading to malnutrition.

Early warning signs can include unintentional weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, poor concentration, reduced muscle strength, and more frequent illness or slower recovery.