Malnutrition

Malnutrition means "poor nutrition" which can be caused by undernutrition or overnutrition; a balanced diet should provide enough nutrients such as calories, protein and vitamins, to keep you healthy. Without this, you may not be getting all the nutrients you need and this can lead to malnutrition.

Certain medical conditions can lead to your body being unable to absorb or use nutrients properly, mental health illness, such as depression or schizophrenia or sometimes taking multiple medications or certain types of medication may also increase your risk of developing malnutrition.

The goal of a malnutrition diet is to increase the amount of calories and protein in your diet by eating ‘little and often’ while including protein in each meal. Avoid low fat, sugar-free, diet foods and add high calorie ingredients to meals and drinks and not to have drinks just before meals to prevent you from feeling full.

Nutritional supplements are a range of liquid and powder products that can be recommended, within certain circumstances, to help support better nutrition. These products contain calories, protein, vitamins and minerals to help increase your intake. They are designed to be taken alongside your diet while following a ‘food first’ mentality to promote progress with your weight.