Undernourishment: meaning, definitions and examples
🍽️
undernourishment
[ ˌʌndərˈnʌrɪʃmənt ]
health
Undernourishment refers to the state of not receiving enough food or nutrients for proper health and growth. It can lead to various health problems and deficiencies.
Synonyms
hunger, malnutrition, starvation.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| undernourishment |
Similar to the first instance of this word, it describes a long-term lack of essential nutrients needed for health.
|
| malnutrition |
This word is used to describe a condition that results from eating a diet in which nutrients are either not enough or are too much, leading to health problems. It can refer to both undernutrition and overnutrition.
|
| hunger |
This word is generally used to describe the feeling of needing or wanting food. It can be temporary and is not necessarily as severe as the other terms listed.
|
| starvation |
This word describes a severe lack of food intake leading to extreme hunger and eventually death if not addressed. It is a more extreme condition than undernourishment and hunger.
|
Examples of usage
- Children in developing countries often suffer from undernourishment due to poverty and lack of access to proper nutrition.
- Long-term undernourishment can result in stunted growth and weakened immune systems.
- In extreme cases, severe undernourishment can lead to malnutrition and even death.
Translations
Translations of the word "undernourishment" in other languages:
🇵🇹 desnutrição
🇮🇳 कुपोषण
🇩🇪 Unterernährung
🇮🇩 kurang gizi
🇺🇦 недоїдання
🇵🇱 niedożywienie
🇯🇵 栄養失調
🇫🇷 malnutrition
🇪🇸 desnutrición
🇹🇷 yetersiz beslenme
🇰🇷 영양실조
🇸🇦 سوء التغذية
🇨🇿 podvýživa
🇸🇰 podvýživa
🇨🇳 营养不良
🇸🇮 podhranjenost
🇮🇸 vanæring
🇰🇿 дұрыс тамақтанбау
🇬🇪 მალნუტრიცია
🇦🇿 qida əskikliyi
🇲🇽 desnutrición
Etymology
The term 'undernourishment' originated in the early 20th century as a medical concept to describe the inadequate intake of food and nutrients. It gained prominence in the context of global health and nutrition efforts to address issues of hunger and malnutrition. The World Health Organization and other international organizations use 'undernourishment' as a key indicator to assess food insecurity and nutritional status in populations around the world.
See also: malnourished, nourishing, nourishment, undernourished.