A deficiency of one or more of the essential ingredients of a diet. Undernutrition occurs when insufficient food energy is taken, and when prolonged may lead to profound weight loss. The insufficiency may be more specific and involve one or several vitamin deficiencies. Examples include water-soluble vitamins (B-vitamins, C, folates) and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E). Electrolyte deficiencies and inadequate amounts of essential fatty and amino acids may also occur. These may give rise to a wide range of clinical abnormalities and metabolic defects.
Classifications and external resources
| ICD-10 | E40-E46, E61-E64 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 263.9 |
Malnutrition is a general term for the medical condition caused by an improper or insufficient diet.
Causes of Malnutrition
Famine Poverty Digestive disease Malabsorption Anorexia Bulimia nervosa Untreated diabetes mellitus Fasting Coma Alcoholism Over-consumption of fat and sugar Overpopulation Industrial food processingStatistics
Number of undernourished people (million) in 2001-2003, according to the FAO, the following countries had 5 million or more undernourished people :
| Country | Number of Undernourished (million) |
|---|---|
| India | 212.0 |
| China | 150.0 |
| Bangladesh | 43.1 |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | 37.0 |
| Pakistan | 35.2 |
| Ethiopia | 31.5 |
| Tanzania | 16.1 |
| Philippines | 15.2 |
| Brazil | 14.4 |
| Indonesia | 13.8 |
| Vietnam | 13.8 |
| Thailand | 13.4 |
| Nigeria | 11.5 |
| Kenya | 9.7 |
| Sudan | 8.8 |
| Mozambique | 8.3 |
| North Korea | 7.9 |
| Yemen | 7.1 |
| Madagascar | 6.5 |
| Colombia | 5.9 |
| Zimbabwe | 5.7 |
| Mexico | 5.1 |
| Zambia | 5.1 |
| Angola | 5.0 |
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