Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why is obesity considered a form of malnutrition?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
nutritional disease
Children with rickets. The disease, which most commonly strikes children, causes bone deformities such as bowlegs. Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D or calcium.
Obesity is classified as a form of malnutrition because malnutrition is defined broadly as any physical condition resulting from a faulty or inadequate diet. While the term is often associated with undernutrition, it encompasses any disorder brought on by an improper diet, whether that involves a lack of essential nutrients or the excessive consumption of calories.12
In the case of obesity, the condition arises from a diet containing more calories than the body can utilize, leading to an excessive accumulation of body fat. Because this represents a significant dietary imbalance that contributes to poor health, it is recognized as a prevalent form of malnutrition, particularly in developed nations.32