Am I Undernourished?

Did you unintentionally lose 5 to 10% of your body weight within 3 to 6 months?

Do you have a body mass index (BMI) under 18.5 (BMI is the result of body mass divided by the square of body height)?

Do your bones protrude, and you have dry, pale and cold skin?

Have you noticed that lost fat on your face, so that your cheeks look hollow and your eyes sunken?

Do you feel weak and unable to perform your usual activities?

Do you have reduced appetite or complete loss of appetite?

Are you prone to infections, do you often get sick and then it took you a long time to recover?

Do you bruise easily or do your wounds heal more slowly than before?

Do you find it difficult to concentrate?

Do you feel cold all the time?

Are you depressed, irritable or apathetic?

If you are a woman, do you have irregular menstrual cycles or have you lost your period?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you are undernourished. Undernutrition is a condition characterized by a lack of calories or one or more essential nutrients. Undernourished people usually do not eat enough food, or have a diet that lacks proper nutrients or a variety of foods. Also, undernutrition occurs in people who have a proper diet, but some other health condition prevents them from normally absorbing nutrients from food. You can often tell if someone is underourished based on their appearance; people are underweight, their bones protrude, and they have dry, inelastic skin and hair that falls out easily.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you are undernourished. Undernutrition is a condition related to insufficient intake of calories and proteins, while the lack of minerals and vitamins is considered a separate disorder. However, undernourished people usually have a lack of vitamins and minerals at the same time. Undernutrition includes wasting (recent severe weight loss), stunting (low height-for-age due to chronic undernoutrition) and underweight (low weight-for-age). Undernourished people are more susceptible to infections and need more time to recover from illness. A diagnosis is based on your appearance, height and weight, information on diet and weight loss, and a physical examination.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you are undernourished. Undernutrition is a condition that occurs when you do not eat enough calories or when your diet does not contain the right amount of nutrients. It is most common among low- and middle-income families. In most cases, treating malnutrition involves gradually increasing the number of calories you eat. It is recommended to eat several small, nutritious meals every day. Your doctor or dietitian will make an individual diet plan that suits your nutritional needs and overall health. If an underlying disease causes undernutrition, it must be treated.