Why malnutrition happens

We work in many of the poorest places, in the United States and abroad, to alleviate child hunger worldwide and prevent malnutrition. However, children living in developed countries are still at risk for malnutrition if they are born into poverty. Poverty is the number one cause of malnutrition in developing countries.

Often times, families living in poverty lack access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Many communities do not have full-service grocery stores that regularly stock fresh produce. Even if they do, fresh fruits and vegetables can be expensive.

When fresh fruits and vegetables are out of reach for children, they can fill up on less expensive, less healthy foods. Chronic malnutrition is becoming concentrated in countries with the fewest resources, where 1 in 3 children have stunted growth. Today, 9 in 10 stunted children, roughly million children, live in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

At least million children live in countries affected by conflict and fragility. In South Sudan , for example, conflict and drought have led to devastating conditions for children.

Save the Children in South Sudan is the lead health and nutrition provider in much of the region. We run 58 feeding program sites for infants and young children, all powered by the support of our donors.

The crisis in Syria has also shed light on the number of refugee children who are at risk of malnutrition. Access to food and water has become a heartbreaking challenge— leaving thousands of Syrian children at risk for malnutrition. There are many ways to help Syrian refugee children.

Some medicines have unpleasant side effects, such as making you feel sick, losing your appetite, or having diarrhoea, which could mean you eat less or do not absorb as many nutrients from food.

Examples of these types of conditions include childhood cancers, congenital heart disease , cystic fibrosis and cerebral palsy. Some children may become malnourished because of an eating disorder or a behavioural or psychological condition that means they avoid or refuse food. Patients may be asked to record what they eat during a specific period. X-rays can determine bone density and reveal gastrointestinal disturbances, as well as heart and lung damage.

Blood and urine tests are used to measure the patient's levels of vitamins, minerals and waste products. Patients who cannot or will not eat or who are unable to absorb nutrients taken by mouth may be fed intravenously parenteral nutrition or through a tube inserted into the gastrointestinal tract enteral nutrition.

Tube feeding is often used to provide nutrients to patients who have suffered burns or who have inflammatory bowel disease. This procedure involves inserting a thin tube through the nose and carefully guiding it along the throat until it reaches the stomach or small intestine.

If long-term tube feeding is necessary, the tube may be placed directly into the stomach or small intestine through an incision in the abdomen. Getting your child to eat healthfully is a struggle for many parents, especially if you have a picky eater in your family.