2023-11-02 10:03:05
The fight against malnutrition is a public health issue that affects 2 million French people, 25% of whom are over 70 years old and live alone.
Undernutrition concerns:
10% of people aged over 70 living at home, 10% of children hospitalized, 30% of people hospitalized, and 40% of cancer patients.
Undernutrition results from nutritional intake lower than the body’s needs. It is most often linked to a loss of appetite linked to an acute or chronic illness, or a set of contributing factors (mobility disorders, oral and dental problems, social isolation, etc.). Some illnesses lead to poor assimilation of food. Undernutrition results in weight loss, mainly to the detriment of muscle, whether in a person initially thin, of normal weight, overweight or obese. The person loses strength. Elderly people, children and adults may be affected by malnutrition.
We are talking about undernutrition:
In any adult who loses more than 5% of your weight in 1 month, or 10% in 6 months. In case body mass index less than 18.5 in adults or 21 in people over 70 years old.
In children in case of stagnation of weight or heightor even weight loss.
The main consequences of undernutrition are:
Weakening of immunity with an increase in risk of infection.
Physical weakening with loss of strength, difficulty walking, risk of falls and fractures.
A drop in morale and a risk of depression.
Worsening of chronic diseases and some addiction.
There is therefore no age to be malnourished.
HOW TO PREVENT UNNUTRITION
Diet is the keystone in the fight against malnutrition: 3 meals a day, or even an extra snack, with portions adapted to your appetite, and a varied diet to maintain your usual weight. Regular weight monitoring is essential, particularly in the elderly who can rapidly decline or in adults and children suffering from severe acute or chronic pathologies. Beyond 3 kg of weight loss compared to usual weight, you must consult. Lack of enthusiasm at the table, drop in morale, weight loss, etc.: all these signs are warning signals, particularly among the elderly. Engage in regular activity such as walking, gardening, strolling, etc. helps maintain your muscles. Likewise, good dental hygiene is essential to enjoy eating. If this is not enough to combat weight loss, it is possible to enrich your diet with more energetic (fatty and sweet) and protein (grated cheese, eggs, powdered milk) products. A nutrition professional can also help patients enrich their meals; it is important to seek advice from your doctor. Finally, in malnourished people, the prescription of oral nutritional supplements rich in energy and protein is recommended in addition to fortified meals.
NATIONAL UNNUTRITION WEEK AT AP-HP:
Different actions will be offered within the 38 AP-HP hospitals to reach professionals, patients and visitors: Stands, educational trolley, workshops on enriching dishes, tasting of nutritional supplements, conferences, weigh-ins, quizzes to test your knowledge, enriched recipes…
The program of events carried out by each hospital will be displayed in the different places of passage.
The AP-HP provides patients and professionals with leaflets to better manage malnutrition:
[En vidéo] Fight against malnutrition: how to enrich your diet?
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