undernutrition

Undernutrition is a condition where insufficient food intake leads to a lack of necessary nutrients for the body's energy needs and proper functioning. This can result in weight loss, wasting of body fat and muscle, and impaired growth and development, particularly in children. It affects over 925 million people globally, often linked to poverty and limited food availability.123

While starvation due to extreme food shortages is less common, chronic undernutrition and malnutrition, which is the impaired function from prolonged nutrient deficiency or excess, are significant health issues. These conditions can lead to various deficiency diseases, such as iron-deficiency anemia, rickets, and scurvy, depending on the specific nutrient lacking. Undernutrition also increases susceptibility to other diseases.134