How to deal with malnutrition in adults?

Undernutrition is a condition when a person does not get enough nutrients according to their needs. So, how to solve it? How do you know if the person inside is malnourished? Check out the explanation below.

What are the signs that adults are malnourished?

Lack of appetite or disinterest in food
Fatigue
Thin
Easily offended
Difficulty concentrating
Always feeling cold
Loss of fat, muscle mass (weight loss)
Sick more often and take longer to recover
Depression
Continuous fatigue

In more severe conditions, shortness of breath, pale face, very dry skin, dry hair, and easy hair loss

Why do adults suffer from malnutrition?

There are many things that can cause a person to experience malnutrition. Among others are:

Too little food intake over a long period of time.
The existence of psychological disorders that affect the ability to eat (eg anorexia nervosa).
The existence of health problems, such as digestive problems that can affect the ability to eat or the side effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients.

How to deal with malnutrition in adults

Basically, the handling of malnutrition will vary from person to person. This all depends on the severity experienced, and comorbidities (complications) that arise as well.

Dietitians will usually provide a very specific treatment plan for each person.

Dietary changes are the most important intervention or solution provided by nutritionists. If you are malnourished, you may be asked to increase the amount of nutritious foods in your diet, or to use certain supplements.

There are a number of dietary changes that you should be aware of:

Eating foods that are caloric and nutritious, not just high in calories.
Eat little but often.
Eat snacks between large meals.
Drink drinks that also contain calories.

If your condition is not able to meet your nutritional needs orally (by mouth), you may be given:

The small tube serves as a channel for entering nutrients directly into the digestive system. This is also called a process nasogastric tube. This tube can be placed in the stomach or intestines.
Infusion to provide nutrients and fluids directly into the blood vessels.

After being given a special program, it will usually be done monitoring again to see the progress of her weight and ability to eat. Regular monitoring can help ensure that your calorie and nutrient intake is correct or not.