Nutrition
Every individual needs nutrients in
order to remain healthy. Nutrients supply the necessary needs of the body for
proper functioning and normal growth and development. We get these nutrients
from food. so, the diet of an individual has to be balanced in order to get all
the nutrients required by the body. Proper nutrition saves us from physical and
mental deformities. If the body lacks any of the food constituents, such as
proteins, carbohydrates vitamins, fats and minerals it causes malnutrition. If
the proportion of the constituents of food is disturbed and the diet fails to
meet the needs of the body, then the condition is known as malnutrition.
Causes
of malnutrition
Under-
nourishment and malnutrition may be used by the following factors:
-
the food
constituents are not present in required proportion as to meet the needs of the
body.
-
Children are not
fed properly and timely.
-
Lack of balanced
diet during pregnancy.
-
Prevalence of
parasitic and infectious diseases like worm, diarrhoea, dysentery.
-
Physical and
environmental factors, such as lack of sunshine, fresh air, sound sleep, proper
exercise, may lead to malnutrition.
-
Food habits,
customs, beliefs, tradition, and attitudes play an important role in causing
malnutrition.
-
General
illiteracy and ignorance regarding the ways and means of food preservation, use
and management.
-
Chronic
alcoholism.
-
Poverty.
-
Lack of personal
hygiene and care.
Malnutrition is a human-made disease,
which begins quite commonly in the womb and ends in the grave.
Each
food constituent has its own function and role. Similarly, the deficiency of
each food element has its own effects. Generally, malnutrition may have the
following major effects on a person’s health:
a) Physical effect: one of major functions of food is to
help in the proper growth and development of the body. It influences physical
fitness and organic development. As for example, lack of calcium leads to
rickets which is characterised by stunted growth of bone, calcification of
bone, whereas lack of protein leads to
Kwashiorkor and marasmus which is characterised by loss of weight, retardation of motor
development, retardation of growth. Similarly, malnutrition in early stage of
life may lead to various physical effects such as deformation of bones,
ill-formed teeth, anaemia, blindness and goitre.
b)
Mental effects: malnutrition also effects the mental development of a
child. The mind
becomes slow and doll. It leads to loss of memory,
irritation and uncontrolled emotion.
c)
Social effects: malnutrition
leads to physical and mental deficiency, which ultimately
leads to mal-adjustment of social life. Individuals
who are not physically fit, organically
sound and mentally balanced can never fulfil their
daily needs resulting in frustration, tension
and other social disturbances. These people cannot
maintain their family life, and cannot
participate in social activities. Thus, malnutrition
is a social disease which affects directly on the progress and achievement of a
citizen and the nation.
Malnutrition diseases
Marasmus: a
nutritional disorder due to the deficiency of protein and calories is known
as
‘Marasmus’. It is seen most commonly in weaned infants
and children below faive years.
A child with this disease is characterised by
emaciated look, irritation, loss of appetite, dehydration, incessant diarrhoea,
etc. the limbs are thin but the stomach is swollen and the
body looks shrunken.
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