Malnutrition happens when the body does not get enough of what it needs and starts using up its own stores of energy and protein. Many people think of it as something that happens in other parts of the world. In the UK it is common, and it often goes unnoticed.
The British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) estimates that over three million people in the UK are malnourished or at risk of it, and about nine in ten of them live at home, not in hospital or a care home. It is rarely about a shortage of food. It is usually down to illness, the effects of treatment, or difficulty eating, swallowing or absorbing food.
Signs to look out for
- Losing weight without trying, or clothes and rings becoming loose.
- Feeling tired, weak or cold much of the time.
- Getting ill more often, or taking longer to heal.
- Losing interest in food, or finding eating difficult or painful.
What not to do
- Do not accept weight loss as just part of your condition.
- Do not feel embarrassed to raise it. Ask your GP or hospital team, and ask to be referred to a dietitian or a nutrition team if things are not improving.
Sometimes help is as simple as changes to what you eat, or nourishing drinks. Sometimes more is needed. Getting help early makes a real difference.
Remember: if you are worried about yourself or someone you care for, speak to a GP or dietitian. It is always worth asking.