Malnutrition
Treatment for malnutrition depends on the underlying cause and how malnourished a person is.
You may be given advice to use at home, or you may be treated at home under the supervision of a dietitian or other qualified healthcare professional. In some cases, hospital admission will be necessary.
If you're treated under supervision at home, the healthcare professional helping you will discuss with you changes you should make to your diet.
Your dietary plans will depend on your individual circumstances, but it's likely you'll be advised to gradually increase your intake of energy (calories), protein, carbohydrates, fluids, and vitamins and minerals. The aim is to reduce your risk of developing complications, such as infections, and to avoid hospital admission.
The British Dietetic Association (BDA) has produced a factsheet called Malnutrition overcoming the problem (PDF, 560kb), which provides some useful practical advice.
You may also be advised to take special nutritional supplements which can increase your energy and protein intake. You'll be helped to set targets and your progress will be regularly monitored.
Depending on the cause of your malnutrition, you may also need additional help. For example, you may benefit from the help of a carer if poor mobility makes it difficult for you to shop for food or cook. These are fitted in hospital but can be used at home (see below).
You'll be seen by a number of healthcare professionals if you're admitted to hospital with malnutrition. They may include:
If you don't have problems swallowing food, dietary changes may be recommended, with or without nutritional supplements.
If you're unable to swallow food you may need a feeding tube. There are two types of feeding tubes:
This is known as parenteral nutrition and it allows you to receive nutrients that you can't get through eating.
You'll be prescribed a solution that's tailored to your individual dietary needs. The solution may include a combination of nutrients, including carbohydrates and sugars, proteins, fats, electrolytes (salts) and a variety of vitamins and minerals.
The underlying cause of your malnutrition may also need to be treated.
The amount of time you'll spend in hospital will depend on your general state of health and what's causing your malnutrition. In some cases it may be possible to return home while receiving treatment.
In the UK, many cases of malnutrition in children are caused by long-term health conditions and hospital treatment is often required.
Childhood malnutrition can sometimes be treated with additional nutrients. Your child may need to take special supplements and eat foods high in energy and nutrients. The underlying cause of their malnutrition may also need to be treated.
Severely malnourished children need to be fed and rehydrated with great care and so can't be given a normal diet straight away. Once their condition stabilises they can gradually be introduced to a normal diet.
Malnutrition due to lack of food is a child protection issue, which means the police and social services need to be informed.
Malnutrition is a serious condition that occurs when a persons diet doesn't contain the right amount of nutrients.
The most common symptom of malnutrition is unplanned and unexplained weight loss.
Malnutrition is caused by a lack of nutrients which prevents the body functioning normally.
Several factors are taken into account to check whether someone is malnourished or at a high risk of malnutrition.
Treatment for malnutrition depends on the underlying cause and how severely malnourished you are.
The best way to ensure you get the correct amount of nutrients is to eat a healthy, balanced diet.