Undernourishment: meaning, definitions and examples

🍽️

Add to dictionary

undernourishment

[ˌʌndərˈnʌrɪʃmənt ]

Definition

^{Context #1 | Noun}

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. Due to ongoing droughts and poor harvests, the population is experiencing widespread undernourishment
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. Malnutrition can occur not only in poor regions but also in wealthier areas where people consume too much unhealthy food
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. After skipping breakfast, he felt intense hunger by mid-morning
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. During the famine, many people in the region faced starvation and urgent humanitarian aid was needed

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.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word combines 'under,' meaning less than needed, and 'nourishment,' which comes from the Latin 'nutrire,' meaning to feed.
First recorded use of 'undernourishment' in English appeared in the early 20th century, highlighting public health concerns.

Health and Nutrition

Undernourishment can lead to serious health issues, including stunted growth in children and weakened immune systems.
It often stems from food scarcity but can also be caused by a lack of knowledge about proper nutrition.
Malnutrition affects approximately 1 in 10 people globally, indicating a widespread issue in both developing and developed nations.

Sociology

In many cultures, undernourishment can directly be linked to socioeconomic status, affecting access to food.
The phenomenon is often more prevalent in regions experiencing conflict or natural disasters where food supply chains are disrupted.

Psychology

Research shows that undernourishment impacts mental health, potentially leading to anxiety and depression.
The physical state of undernourishment can alter cognitive functions, affecting decision-making and learning abilities.

Global Initiatives

International organizations, like the World Food Programme, actively work to reduce undernourishment through food aid and education.
Sustainable agriculture initiatives aim to tackle the root causes of undernourishment by improving food production methods.

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