Malnutrition News and Research

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Malnutrition is a condition which occurs when there is a deficiency of certain vital nutrients in a person’s diet. The deficiency fails to meet the demands of the body leading to effects on the growth, physical health, mood, behaviour and other functions of the body. Malnutrition commonly affects children and the elderly.

Regional crises and climate shocks drive global resurgence of cholera

Cholera, caused by Vibrio cholerae, spreads through contaminated water and thrives where sanitation systems have collapsed. Once inside the body, it dehydrates victims within hours, but with prompt treatment, nearly every life can be saved.

27 Nov 2025

Researchers launch phase 2 trial to test swallowing therapy for people with early Parkinson's

Swallowing difficulties, or dysphagia, affect up to 80% of people with Parkinson's disease and can lead to serious complications, including malnutrition, aspiration and reduced quality of life.

24 Nov 2025

Postoperative geriatric syndromes signal high vulnerability and poor outcomes in older adults

Older adults who develop a new geriatric syndrome - such as dehydration, delirium, or malnutrition - after major surgery face a dramatically higher risk of poor outcomes, including more complications, fewer days spent at home, and a significantly increased likelihood of dying within a year, according to findings published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

20 Nov 2025

Early lean mass shapes long-term brain development in preterm infants

Extremely preterm infants with higher fat-free mass at term-equivalent age show better cognitive, language, and motor outcomes through age three. Early lean-tissue growth offers stronger neurodevelopmental insight than traditional growth measures.

12 Nov 2025

Unraveling Tanzania’s Breadbasket paradox in child nutrition

Tanzania's "Breadbasket Regions (BBRs)" are the core of the country's food supply, contributing over 38% of Tanzania's national maize production.

11 Nov 2025

Study provides a new perspective for optimizing School Feeding Programs

School Feeding Programs (SFPs), as crucial public policies for improving children's nutrition and development globally, have covered 388 million children across 161 countries.

11 Nov 2025

New research reveals how human astroviruses enter the body

Human astroviruses are a leading viral cause of the stomach bug-think vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. It often impacts young children and older adults, leading to vicious cycles of sickness and malnutrition, particularly for those in low and middle income countries.

3 Nov 2025

WHO condemns violence amid escalating crisis in North Darfur's El Fasher

The World Health Organization (WHO) condemns the reported killing of more than 460 patients and their companions, as well as the abduction of six health workers, on 28 October from the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El Fasher.

30 Oct 2025

AI-powered LifeClock forecasts diseases years before symptoms appear

Researchers have developed LifeClock, an AI-driven biological clock trained on over 24 million electronic health records to estimate biological age across the human lifespan. The model accurately predicts disease risk years in advance, revealing distinct developmental and aging processes.

28 Oct 2025

New AI system connects hidden clues in medical records to transform diagnosis

Doctors often must make critical decisions in minutes, relying on incomplete information. While electronic health records contain vast amounts of patient data, much of it remains difficult to interpret quickly-especially for patients with rare diseases or unusual symptoms.

15 Oct 2025

Global health study warns of rising youth deaths amid declining overall mortality

Global mortality rates are falling but not among youths and young adults, according to the latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study published in The Lancet today and presented at the World Health Summit in Berlin.

13 Oct 2025

Understanding the impact of chikungunya on children

Chikungunya is a vector-borne disease that affects both adults and children. While global efforts are ongoing to tackle chikungunya in adults, progress in addressing pediatric chikungunya remains inadequate.

10 Oct 2025

Study warns of inevitable child mortality rise without unimpeded aid in Gaza

More than 54,600 children in Gaza are estimated to be acutely malnourished, including over 12,800 severely so, with few therapeutic options available to them. With measurements up to the middle of August 2025, the study comprehensively tracks wasting among children during the war, estimates population prevalence, and highlights unprecedented increases in child malnutrition following periods of blockades and severe aid restrictions.

9 Oct 2025

Advancing patient safety for children: building safer systems from birth

Laís Junqueira discusses patient safety challenges in pediatric care and the need for system-level innovations to protect children and newborns effectively.

2 Oct 2025

Uganda’s most vulnerable region faces high Salmonella burden

In the dry, isolated area of Karamoja in northeastern Uganda – the country’s poorest sub-region – children have long suffered from malnutrition and water shortages.

26 Sep 2025

Simple tweak to how AI assigns diagnostic codes could improve accuracy

A new study from researchers at the Mount Sinai Health System suggests that a simple tweak to how artificial intelligence (AI) assigns diagnostic codes could significantly improve accuracy, even outperforming physicians.

25 Sep 2025

Lysosomal activity in worms linked to transgenerational extension of lifespan

In the Wang Lab, it's not unusual for worms to live for a long time. HHMI Janelia Research Campus Senior Group Leader Meng Wang and her team study longevity. They've shown that by overexpressing an enzyme in the lysosomes of the roundworm C. elegans, they can extend the worm's life by up to 60 percent.

25 Sep 2025

Frontline clinicians report trauma patterns in Gaza exceeding previous warzones

A British led study published by The BMJ today provides detailed data on the pattern and severity of traumatic injuries and medical conditions seen by international healthcare workers deployed to Gaza during the ongoing military invasion.

25 Sep 2025

Dried fish provide essential nutrients for women and children in Africa

Hidden in plain sight, dried fish are an overlooked yet vital nutrient-packed superfood helping to feed millions of people across Africa, a new study reveals.

22 Sep 2025

Climate change is already driving heat mortality and massive economic losses

Researchers systematically identified just 20 studies directly linking human-driven climate change to specific health impacts and deaths worldwide. They estimate tens of billions in annual economic losses and warn of inequities in research leadership and data coverage.

18 Sep 2025