Malnutricious: meaning, definitions and examples
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malnutricious
[ mælˈnuːtrɪʃəs ]
health, nutrition
Malnutricious refers to a state of poor nutrition caused by an inadequate or unbalanced diet, lack of essential nutrients, or inability to absorb nutrients. It can lead to a variety of health issues ranging from physical debilitation to developmental problems in children.
Synonyms
malnourished, nutritionally deficient, undernourished
Examples of usage
- The child's malnutricious condition was a result of prolonged food scarcity.
- Groups focused on addressing malnutricious diets in underdeveloped regions.
- Public health initiatives aim to reduce malnutricious cases globally.
Etymology
The term 'malnutricious' originates from the combination of the prefix 'mal-', meaning bad or ill, and 'nutrition', which comes from the Latin word 'nutritio', meaning nourishment or sustenance. The prefix 'mal-' is commonly used in English to denote something that is defective or harmful. Nutrition itself has evolved through centuries, with its understanding significantly expanding during the 20th century as scientists began to explore the impact of dietary deficiencies on health. The focus on malnutrition in public health discourse has increased, particularly in light of reports highlighting food inequality and dietary imbalances across the globe.