Signs of Malnutrition in Children

Malnutrition can have serious impacts on children, especially those under the age of five years. It’s important to know the signs of malnutrition so you can intervene to help your children and others in your community.

Sister Rebecca Craven of the General Young Women Presidency said, “Jesus was perceptive, and so are you. We can only know the true needs of our children if we perceive them. We must listen, observe, and see.”¹

Here’s how to recognize the signs of malnutrition so you can help.

Symptoms of Malnourishment

To grow up healthy and strong, children need to eat a diet that includes the right amount and type of essential nutrients. Malnutrition occurs when a child’s diet does not contain all the nutrients a child needs to grow and develop. The signs of malnutrition may not be easy to spot. In fact, in some places, the signs of malnutrition may be so common that they seem normal.

There are multiple forms of malnutrition, and each type has different symptoms. It’s important to be aware of the signs of undernutrition so you know how to help.

There are four kinds of undernutrition: stunting, wasting, underweight, and vitamin/mineral deficiency.

Stunting is a form of persistent or chronic malnutrition that slows normal growth and development, especially during a child’s first few years of life. As a result, these children experience stunted growth (too short for their age), and reduced mental ability.

Wasting, on the other hand, is acute malnutrition or sudden weight loss that causes the body to break down its own muscle mass for energy, resulting in the child being too thin for their height. Children with this form of malnutrition have an increased risk of death, so treatment is required immediately.

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are difficult to spot without additional tests, but the signs of a child being underweight, stunted, or wasted are similar. Here’s what to look for:

• Low height for age
• Low body weight for height
• Signs of low energy:
  
  • Dizziness
  • Weakness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Slow reactions
• Irritability
• Frequent diarrhea
• Slow wound healing and long recovery times
• Lack of interest in food and drinks:
  
  • Reduced appetite
  • Frequent dehydration
• Changes in hair:
  
  • Dry and breakable
  • Lightening of color
  • Hair loss
• Sunken eyes
• Hollow cheeks
• Swollen, bleeding gums; decaying teeth
• Swollen abdomen with small legs and arms
• Numb, swollen hands and feet
• Dry, scaly skin
• Easily bruised skin; swelling under the skin (edema)

Why does overcoming childhood malnutrition matter?

From the time of conception through ages two to three, children experience their most rapid growth in both body and brain. Nutrient deficiency in a child’s diet during these crucial years can have severe, long-term consequences on their health, physical and mental development, and overall well-being.

Poor nutrition can also cause other health problems. Malnutrition can weaken a child’s immune system, making them more susceptible to diseases. These diseases can also affect how a malnourished child’s body is able to absorb and use nutrients, which could make the malnutrition worse.

Severe malnutrition can be a life-threatening condition. Detecting signs of malnutrition may be the first step in saving a child’s life. With treatment, the vicious cycle that malnutrition causes in the body can end, enhancing the child’s quality of life and the child’s ability to achieve their potential.

What should I do if my child is malnourished?

Malnourishment can happen for a variety of reasons, despite parents’ best efforts to care for and feed their children. If your child or children are showing signs of malnutrition, there is help available.

Parents are key in helping a malnourished child. Once you’re aware that your child shows signs of malnutrition, you should take your child to be seen by a health professional. A health professional can determine whether your child’s growth and weight are normal for their age and height. Professionals will also use additional assessments to determine the stage of malnutrition.

Most often, treatment for malnutrition involves making changes to the child’s diet, incorporating the right kind of healthy foods. Your bishop, ward council, and ministering brothers and sisters can help you learn about nutrition and achieve your goals. Your bishop can also help you access resources to improve your child’s nutrition.

After making these changes, it’s important to follow up with your health professional. They can measure your child’s progress and development over time. Once your child has achieved a healthy weight, continue to check in with health professionals so you can get help with any changes that occur in your child’s health.

• Parents are key in helping a child who is malnourished. Once they become informed, they can take the necessary steps to improve their child’s nutrition. Others may assist and teach parents in these efforts.
• A child who shows signs of malnutrition should be seen by a health professional who can determine if a child is malnourished and inform parents what the child needs to recover.

How can I help others if I recognize signs of malnutrition?

If you notice a child with signs of malnutrition, consider ways you can help.

It’s important to be mindful of what parents may be facing. If malnutrition is prevalent in your area, they may not be aware that their child is malnourished. Or they may already feel hopeless about getting the right food or having the resources to feed their children. Be sensitive to those feelings and show love, kindness, compassion, and a sincere desire to support them. Look for the Holy Ghost to guide these efforts.

Keep in mind that not every case of malnutrition is the same. Observe circumstances to learn the needs of families and the nutritional needs of their children. Talk about these needs with your elders quorum and Relief Society presidents. When appropriate, teach the signs of malnutrition while ministering to families. Share any information you have about where they can go to get help from a medical professional or certified nutritionist. Share relevant skills that could help, such as healthy cooking and gardening.

Bishops and ward councils may counsel together to determine additional ways to help. This help may include assisting the family with buying healthy food or meeting with a health professional.

References

1. Rebecca L. Craven, in “Child Nutrition Program Helps Hundreds of Children and Mothers in the Philippines,” Sept. 21, 2022.