Question

What kinds of social effects are caused by malnutrition?
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Answer 1

Causes of malnutrition include inappropriate dietary choices, a low income, difficulty obtaining food, and various physical and mental health conditions. Undernutrition is one type of malnutrition. It occurs when the body does not get enough food. It can lead to delayed growth, low weight, or wasting.

Answer 2

Answer:

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Explanation:

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The worst damages of malnutrition happen during pregnancy and early childhood – from

conception to two years, i.e. the first 1000 days. Undernourished children have weaker

immune systems and are thus more susceptible to infections and illnesses. Long-term

insufficient nutrient intake and frequent infections can cause stunting, whose effects in terms

of delayed motor and cognitive development are largely irreversible. Extreme food shortages,

common childhood diseases such as diahorrea and pneumonia, or both can lead to acute

malnutrition or wasting, which can quickly lead to death if left untreated6.

The nutritional status of newborns and infants is directly linked with the health and nutritional

status of the mother before, during and after pregnancy. It is estimated, for example, that half

of all child stunting occurs in utero.

In general, malnourished women and girls of

reproductive age have higher chances of giving birth to smaller babies (weight and height),

continuing the cycle of malnutrition into future generations.

The consequences of stunting on education are also dramatic. Various studies show that child

stunting is likely to impact brain development and impair motor skills. According to

UNICEF, stunting in early life is linked to 0.7 grade loss in schooling, a 7-month delay in

starting school and between 22 and 45 percent reduction in lifetime earning.8

Stunted children become less educated adults, thus making malnutrition a long-term and intergenerational problem.

Effective interventions to combat undernutrition are well known, but they need to be scaled

up and integrated in both development and humanitarian policies if they are to have a

significant impact in the nutritional status of individuals and communities in developing

countries. Nutrition-specific interventions, which directly impact an individual’s

nutritional status include the promotion of practices to improve nutrition (e.g. increased

rates of exclusive breastfeeding from 0-6 months and timely introduction of adequate

complementary foods after 6 months), the reduction of micronutrients deficiencies (e.g.

vitamin A supplements), and the prevention and community management of severe acute

malnutrition. In addition, nutrition sensitive interventions are essential to address the

underlying causes of malnutrition, which are embedded in the household and community level context. These range from improving food security to enhancing the status of women; from ensuring access to water, sanitation and health services to improved education; from

improving childcare practices to reinforcing social protection.