7.1.1  Causes of malnutrition

There are several causes of malnutrition that can vary from country to country. They can be classified as root causes, underlying causes and immediate causes. Immediate causes of malnutrition are:

Inadequate dietary intake: this is when a child is not getting enough nutrients from his or her food to meet the nutritional needs of its body.

Frequent attacks of illness: a child who has had frequent illnesses can develop malnutrition. During illness the child’s appetite decreases; the food eaten might not be absorbed or it may be vomited; the food that the child eats is not used efficiently, or it may not be enough for the increased metabolic need of the child’s body.