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Basic concepts
Food: Natural or artificial substance or product suitable for human consumption. It is any substance that provides the matter and energy necessary to perform our vital functions.
Nutrient: Nutrient substances of vegetable, animal or mineral origin that are in food. They are necessary for the growth, maintenance and reproduction of our organism.
Each of these nutrients provide our body with substances that are essential for its functioning and development, such as:
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PROTEINS
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CARBOHYIDRATES
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FATS
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VITAMINS
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MINERALS
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Meats, eggs, dairy, legumes
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Bread, flour, sugar, pasta
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Fats and oils
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Complex chemical substances, in minimal quantities, but essential for the good state of the organism
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Balance of body functions
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They are necessary for the growth and formation of tissues.
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They are of high energy value
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They are energy products
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Feeding: Voluntary, educable process highly influenced by social, economic, cultural and other factors.
Nutrition: Set of processes by which the human body digests, absorbs, transforms, uses and eliminates the nutrients contained in food. Non-voluntary and non-modifiable metabolic process.
Malnutrition: Abnormal physiological state as a result of poor dietary intake of energy, protein and/or micronutrients or due to poor absorption of these, due to recurrent or chronic diseases. It is a condition that can occur when the body does not receive enough nutrients.
| HUNGER |
FAMINE
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Physiological state in the human being that demands eating food to satisfy the sensation caused by its lack.
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Limited period in which the lack of food for the population is very serious (availability and/or access) and severe acute malnutrition is very high, causing a notable and widespread increase in morbidity and/or mortality.
The infant mortality rate rises sharply and exceeds a certain limit.
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| UNDERNOURISHMENT |
MALNUTRITION |
MALNUTRITION |
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Food intake that is insufficient to meet dietary energy needs on an ongoing basis.
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The result of undernourishment, poor absorption, and/or poor biological use of the nutrients consumed.
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Abnormal physiological state due to deficiency, excess, or imbalance of energy, protein, and other nutrients.
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Consequences of malnutrition
- Malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency
- Inadequate growth and development
- Increased risk of disease and death
- Lower school and intellectual performance
- Lower performance in physical work
- Increased risk of obesity and chronic non-communicable diseases
Global Malnutrition
- Low weight in relation to the individual's age.
- Indicates the present and past situation.
- Used for growth monitoring.
- Indicator used to monitor the MDGs.
- Weight/Age (W/A)
Chronic malnutrition
- Also called growth retardation, it is manifested by a short height according to the individual's age, as a result of recurrent diseases and or a poor and prolonged food intake.
- Low height according to the age of the individual.
- Indicate the past situation
- Size/Age (S/A)
This type of malnutrition permanently decreases the physical, mental and productive capacities of the individual, when it occurs between pregnancy and thirty-six months of age.
Acute Malnutrition
- It is manifested by low weight in relation to the height of the individual, which is caused by a recent situation of lack of food or an illness that has produced rapid weight loss.
- Low weight in relation to the height of the individual.
- Indicates the current situation
- Weight/Height (W/H)
This type of malnutrition is recoverable, however, if it is not treated in a timely manner, it puts the life of the individual at high risk.
When they are presented:
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ACUTE
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CHRONICLE
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Results from weight loss associated with recent periods of food crisis or illness that develops very quickly and is limited in time.
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It begins from conception, it has irreversible effects on all those who suffer from it and on the development of the country. A continuous cycle of disease and malnutrition is established. It occurs when the boy or girl is short for their age. It affects the learning capacity in: Concentration, Productivity and Schooling.
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Main causes of acute malnutrition:
- Maternal malnutrition
- Low income in the family
- Low availability of food
- Poor and unbalanced diet
- High frequency of diarrhea and other illnesses
- Lack of hygiene in food preparation
- Lack of education or knowledge about child nutrition
- Inadequate feeding and nutrition practices
PHYSICAL MANIFESTATIONS:
MARASMUS
- Very thin, looks bony
- Old man's face
- Dry and wrinkled skin
- Dull and sparse hair, lighter in color than normal, falls out easily
- Irritable character, cries a lot
- Weak, listless child
It is usually a consequence of a decrease in energy intake combined with an imbalance in the intake of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and a lack of vitamins and minerals.
KWASHIORKOR
- He is known as a sugar boy
- He looks swollen in the face, feet and arms
- It looks like skin with water
- Very stretched skin, sometimes with wounds
- Fine hair, little and it comes off easily
- Full moon face
- Stains or scales on the skin
- Weak, listless child
Bibliography:
Guatemala. SESAN. Reneau A. (2013). DESNUTRICIÓN. Guatemala: SESAN |
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