Unfortunately, the malnutrition it is a very serious problem that affects thousands of people around the world, whether they are living in developed or underdeveloped countries. Malnutrition can be caused by two factors: a poor diet Or the lack of food.
THE poor diet it occurs with people who base their diet only on carbohydrates and fats, and this diet is very low in fruits, vegetables and proteins such as meat. That poor diet it kills hunger, but does not provide the essential elements, such as vitamins and minerals, necessary for the proper functioning of the body.
Eating food in less than necessary amounts causes the body to use up its fat reserves to maintain the body's metabolism, leading to malnutrition.
The low consumption of essential nutrients for life, such as vitamins and minerals, can lead to the appearance of numerous diseases, such as rickets, scurvy, headaches, osteoporosis, night blindness, and others. malnutrition it is a leading cause of death for children in some countries.
Among the factors that aggravate the problem of malnutrition, we can mention some as:
- population increase;
- bad income distribution;
- precarious food distribution systems;
- natural disasters;
- low education level;
- lack of water and areas available for agriculture.
By Paula Louredo
Graduated in Biology
