ELI5: malnutrition

high confidence

April 14, 2026

// explanation

// eli5Malnutrition is when your body doesn't get the right food fuel it needs. Imagine your body is like a car - it needs the right kind of gas and oil to run well. If you only eat candy all day, or if you don't eat enough food, your body gets sick because it's not getting what it needs to grow strong and healthy. [1][2][4]

// sources

[1]Fact sheets - Malnutrition

Mar 1, 2024 ... Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person's intake of energy and/or nutrients.

[2]Malnutrition: Definition, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

May 4, 2022 ... Malnutrition is an imbalance between the nutrients your body needs to function and the nutrients it gets. It can mean undernutrition or overnutrition.

[3]Malnutrition - NHS

Malnutrition is a serious condition that happens when your diet does not contain the right amount of nutrients. It means poor nutrition.

[4]Malnutrition - MedlinePlus

Aug 29, 2025 ... What is malnutrition? Malnutrition means that your body isn't getting enough calories or the right balance of nutrients to stay healthy.

[5]Malnutrition in the nursing home - PubMed - NIH

20% of nursing home residents had some form of malnutrition. However, malnutrition definitions were variable and prevalence ranged from 1.5 to 66.5%.

[6]What is Malnutrition?video

Video by Stanford Center for Health Education

[7]Malnutrition Explained on 4 Levels | UNICEFvideo

Video by UNICEF

[8]What is malnutrition?video

Video by Doctors Without Borders / MSF-USA

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