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.

Mathematical model recreates swallowing and reveals causes of dysphagia

For most people, swallowing is second nature, but how does it occur, and why do some people have difficulty with it? Researchers at Kyushu University in Japan have started to tackle these questions by developing a mathematical model that recreates the muscle movements of the esophagus that occur during swallowing.

16 Sep 2025

Can high-protein supplements improve cancer recovery?

A systematic review shows high-protein oral nutritional supplements can lower complications and hospital stays in cancer patients, improving recovery outcomes.

16 Sep 2025

High BMI and obesity may not always increase mortality risk

It is possible to be "fat but fit", new research being presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria (15-19 September) suggests.

15 Sep 2025

Specific microbial changes linked to poor growth in children

Malnutrition is responsible for more than half of all deaths in children under the age of five worldwide.

10 Sep 2025

Kids with fluctuating gut microbiome show poorer growth

Malnutrition is a leading cause of death in children under age 5, and nearly 150 million children globally under this age have stunted growth from lack of nutrition.

9 Sep 2025

Innovative approach advances equity in health care AI

A team of researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has developed a new method to identify and reduce biases in datasets used to train machine-learning algorithms-addressing a critical issue that can affect diagnostic accuracy and treatment decisions.

5 Sep 2025

AI and routine lab tests offer a more accurate prediction of genetic disease risk

When genetic testing reveals a rare DNA mutation, doctors and patients are frequently left in the dark about what it actually means.

28 Aug 2025

Longitudinal study reveals how GLP-2 analog therapy transforms the intestinal environment

Researchers from Japan discover that glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) analogs can deeply and beneficially reshape the intestinal environment.

27 Aug 2025

Health care visits linked to antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Guatemalan communities

In Guatemalan communities, a recent visit to a health clinic or hospital - not antibiotic use - is the strongest predictor of carrying bacteria resistant to critical antibiotics, according to a new study led by Washington State University.

20 Aug 2025

Extreme weather events put children’s brains and mental health at risk, researchers warn

Extreme weather events are increasingly recognized as adverse childhood experiences (E-ACEs) that disrupt brain development, stress regulation, and long-term health. Researchers warn that children, especially in low- and middle-income countries, face lifelong mental and physical health risks without urgent resilience-building interventions.

19 Aug 2025

Study finds rapid spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria among malnourished children in Niger

A new study led by researchers at the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) has found that antimicrobial resistant bacteria is spreading rapidly among children being treated for severe malnutrition in a hospital facility in Niger.

1 Aug 2025

Black Death victims offer clues to childhood malnutrition and adult disease

The Black Death arrived on the shores of England in May 1348 and, in less than two years, spread throughout the country, killing an estimated 2 million people.

31 Jul 2025

Global hunger declines slightly but Africa and Western Asia face growing crisis

An estimated 8.2 percent of the global population, or about 673 million people, experienced hunger in 2024, down from 8.5 percent in 2023 and 8.7 percent in 2022.

29 Jul 2025

Malnutrition crisis deepens in the Gaza Strip

Malnutrition is on a dangerous trajectory in the Gaza Strip, marked by a spike in deaths in July.

28 Jul 2025

Which GLP-1 meds have the most side effects? Study of 60,000 Facebook posts gives answers

Researchers analyzed nearly 60,000 public Facebook posts to identify real-world adverse events linked to GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications. Gastrointestinal symptoms were most common, while mental health concerns and tirzepatide-specific side effects were also flagged.

28 Jul 2025

UN proposal on trans fats could harm nutrition in poor countries, experts warn

A draft UN declaration to eliminate trans-fatty acids from global diets has elicited a sharp reaction from experts who claim it violates the rights of the world's poorest to nutritional benefits of milk and meat.

23 Jul 2025

Muscle loss from GLP-1 drugs could undermine long-term health

Popular GLP-1 drugs help many people drop tremendous amounts of weight, but the drugs fail to provide a key improvement in heart and lung function essential for long-term good health, University of Virginia experts warn in a new paper.

21 Jul 2025

Unlocking bacterial genomes to develop tailored probiotic therapies

Probiotics are emerging tools used by neonatal intensive care units to promote healthy outcomes and prevent intestinal diseases such as necrotizing enterocolitis.

16 Jul 2025

Global project measures true cost of healthy diets

A decade-long project measuring access to healthy foods worldwide is wrapping up in August, after shedding new light on the scope and specifics of nutrition insecurity, kickstarting solutions, and shifting the conversation around the affordability of healthy diets.

12 Jul 2025

Toxic metals in breast milk linked to infant growth problems in Guatemala

Research led by the University of Arizona Health Sciences found a potential link between growth problems among infants and high levels of toxic metals and other elements in the breast milk of Mayan women in Guatemala's Lake Atitlán watershed region.

11 Jul 2025