Hidden hunger: malnutrition from eating poorly
The concept of hidden hunger is commonly used to describe the situation of some people who may have adequate or even excessive energy intake, but micronutrient(vitamin and mineral) intakes are not optimal. This puts them at risk for nutrition-related diseases and in fact, when this situation is prolonged, inadequate intakes of micronutrients and even some macronutrients (fats, proteins and carbohydrates) can have adverse effects on health, leading to diseases, worsening some situations of chronic pathologies or generating a suboptimal state of health (without being sick we do not feel quite well).
Hidden hunger in the context of developed countries can occur in people with normal weight and even in people who are overweight or obese. This problem is more related to qualitatively poor eating than to insufficient eating, as is the case with genuine hunger and malnutrition due to lack of energy and macronutrients. And what does it mean to eat poorly qualitatively? It means having a diet poor in nutrients, especially vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, healthy fats such as omega-3. If our diet is monotonous, includes many processed foods and/or does not include a large variety and quantity of plant foods, we may be at risk of suffering from this type of malnutrition or having levels of vitamins and minerals that are too low for optimal health.
Because hidden hunger often does not show direct or obvious physical symptoms, the situation can be overlooked and is not always well diagnosed or documented. It is a state of malnutrition that remains hidden, as it is not as predictable as it really is, and is often not appreciated. It is not usually thought about, since, in principle, it occurs in people who eat everything and have the resources to eat enough. But with the data that science provides us, perhaps it is time to take all this into account.
This problem can be found at any time during the life cycle, but there are more sensitive populations, such as the elderly, children and adolescents, those suffering from chronic diseases, etc. According to FAO and WHO experts, it affects billions of people worldwide. It does not seem then that this problem of inadequate nutrition is trivial or unimportant. We must take action.
Although the problem is not easy to identify, as it does not produce the same sensations as traditional hunger and sometimes the analytical methods available to us do not give us a complete picture of what is happening, we must assess it. Lack of micronutrients can have a wide variety of consequences and with a good dietary and nutritional assessment we can foresee which people may be at risk and how to address them.
To help those who do not have an adequate diet to eat healthy, tasty and nutritionally better:
- improving the variety and overall adequacy of their diets is a must.
- eating nutritionally rich foods
- avoid those that only provide “empty” calories based on fats and/or sugars
- eating more fresh and seasonal foods and less processed foods
There are many people who come to the nutritionist’s office with a hidden risk of malnutrition due to hunger, because when assessing their diets it is more than evident that nutritional richness is conspicuous by its absence.
Many people suffer from chronic pain, take a lot of medication and eat poorly because their situation does not give them energy for more and the relationship between diet and pain is complex. These people often suffer from significant overweight and even obesity, and feel that they put on weight by breathing.
Metabolism also malfunctions when vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients such as omega-3 are lacking. Learning to eat well, varied and enriching the diet is basic for them and the best is always evident. Many children and adolescents are also in this situation, malnourished in these times!
All because they eat processed foods, soft drinks, etc., and do not eat fruits, vegetables, nuts or oily fish, among others. It is not a minor problem, it is a major problem, the foundations of our health are in a good diet that provides us with all the nutrients necessary for the proper functioning of the body.
That is why, and much more, eating well and enjoying healthy eating is so important. As nutrition professionals, we can contribute enormously to this improvement in health.
