Undernutrition
Undernutrition is primarily used in the context of
deficient energy or protein intake or absorption
and is often described as protein energy malnutrition.
It is frequently accompanied by multiple or
single micronutrient and/or mineral deficiencies,
although these may occur in the absence of
macronutrient depletion and give rise to specific
deficiency syndromes. Undernutrition may be due
to a failure of food supply or intake, to deliberate
fasting, or to disease and is characterized by weight
loss and changes in body composition, which
include loss of body fat, loss of lean mass
(proportionately greater in disease compared to
starvation alone) and a relative increase in extracellular
fluid volume.