Condition : Malnutrition

Condition Malnutrition

What is malnutrition?

Malnutrition means ‘poor nutrition’, and it can refer to both undernutrition (not getting enough nutrients) and overnutrition (getting more nutrients than you need).

On this page, the focus is on undernutrition.

For mental health conditions relating to nutrition, such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, refer to our page about eating disorders.

Read about eating disorders

Being undernourished can lead to frailty, putting you at risk of a weak immune system and fragile bones, which means you’ll be more likely to get ill and suffer fractures and then find it harder to recover.

Other signs of malnutrition can include:

unintentional weight loss (losing more than 5% of your weight over three to six months)
a low body mass index (BMI)
feeling tired all the time (fatigue)
feeling cold most of the time
low mood and depression
muscle weakness
hair loss or thinning
eye problems
feeling faint or fainting

What causes malnutrition?

Malnutrition can have a variety of physical causes, including:

medical conditions that affect how well nutrients are absorbed – Crohn’s disease, coeliac disease, and cancer are a few examples
problems relating to insulin (diabetes)
feeling sick (nausea) because of a medical condition, treatment, or medication
swallowing problems (dysphagia)
raised or reduced hormone levels (for example, overactive thyroid)
burning an increased amount of energy while recovering from a surgery or injury, or because of a tremor, such as in Parkinson’s disease
dietary restrictions (due to allergies, intolerances, medical treatments, or practices like veganism) that make it more difficult to plan and prepare balanced meals which will supply the vitamins and minerals your body needs

Next steps

Step 1. Check out our advice

Browse our advice and resources to learn more about your condition and ways to manage it.

Step 2. Contact a Healthcare Professional

If you need further support or have concerns, a Healthcare Professional is here to help. Reach out for professional medical advice tailored to you.

Step 3. View our services

Discover services and support options available to help you with your health and wellbeing.

Managing your health

Adults

There are a number of national and local organisations who can support you and help you manage health conditions at home.

External support

Children and young people

We've created health advice and resources to help you confidently manage health conditions at home. Browse our expert guidance on self-care - tailored to your specific needs - and practical support to start seeing the benefits to your wellbeing and independence.