An Overview of Disease and Health Research Vol. 5

Malnutrition is one of the debilitating conditions that affects children and pregnant women, commonly seen in South Asian countries, with the prevalence of underweight and overweight being 28% and 17% respectively. It is an imbalance of vital nutrients, excessive or insufficient nutritional intake, or poor utilisation of nutrients. There is a high risk of being overweight or obese in adult life with the presence of childhood malnutrition, especially undernutrition and poor early nutrition, which is known as “double burden of malnutrition,” and commonly seen in low- and middle-income countries. It is complex and influenced by various biological, metabolic, and socio-environmental factors. It can lead to numerous health consequences, including metabolic diseases, non-communicable diseases, and chronic inflammation. In addition to these health consequences, it has a negative financial impact on society and the healthcare system. Diagnosis in the early stages is helpful using anthropometric measurements. Treatment and prevention strategies include mainly lifestyle modifications such as dietary changes and physical therapy. It helps in dealing with various health-related complications and improves the quality of life.