Malnutrition includes both the deficiency and excess (or imbalance) of energy, protein and other nutrients. In clinical practice, undernutrition, and inadequate intake of energy, protein and nutrients, is the focus. Undernutrition affects body tissues, functional ability and overall health. In hospitalized patients, undernutrition is often complicated by acute conditions (e.g. a trauma), infections and diseases that cause inflammation. Such complications worsen undernutrition and make it more challenging to correct due to extensive physiological changes and increased nutritional needs when appetite is decreased.
Adapted from AW McKinlay: Malnutrition: the spectre at the feast. J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2008:38317–21.
These recommendations are the result of consultation with stakeholders at the annual Canadian Nutrition Society conference in 2011. CMTF undertakes education and advocacy efforts with respect to the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition in Canada, focused on these recommendations. In 2017 the More-2-Eat Implementation project provided the research and best practices to support the implementation of these recommendations.
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Contact info@nutritioncareincanada.ca if you would like to join the Community of Practice.
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