Increasingly known as the silent epidemic, malnutrition affects thousands of Australians going about their daily lives, with many completely unaware they’re at risk of, or have, this serious health condition which affects approximately 10–30 per cent of the population.

On the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) World Health Day, (yesterday April 7) results of a new consumer survey amongst Australian adults indicates 83 per cent don’t think they themselves, a family member or a loved one living is at risk of malnutrition, a concerning finding that accounts for the gap increasingly being referred to as the ‘missing malnourished’.

Despite the known incidence of malnutrition rising in Australia year-on-year, diagnosis rates remain low, which could be because the majority of Australians are unaware they could be at risk, don’t know what the symptoms are, or both.

Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist and Missing Malnourished campaign spokesperson, Jaime Rose Chambers says: “Malnutrition can affect anyone at any age but we’re at greater risk as we age and with certain illnesses. It occurs when a person’s diet doesn’t include enough nutrition or the right balance of nutrients, such as energy, protein and vitamins, because of a poor appetite, or being unable to eat certain types of food. This can cause serious health problems and affect immunity, recovery, and wound healing.”

In the same survey, Australians correctly identified losing weight, weakness and losing muscle, as signs of malnutrition. However, only 5% of people are aware of ALL the signs of malnutrition and 11% of respondents are NOT aware of any of the signs of malnutrition.

Expert pharmacist and Missing Malnourished campaign spokesperson, Gerald Quigley says to ensure malnutrition is diagnosed and treated, it’s important to know all of the symptoms. “This lack of knowledge is an unacceptable reality in a country like Australia. Sometimes, a person near and dear to you can be malnourished without you even noticing. A lack of appetite, a lack of interest in food, being tired and irritable, showing poor concentration, often commenting on feeling cold, having wounds – even minor ones – that are slow to heal - or just feeling down, these are all signs of malnutrition.”

Common signs of malnutrition other than weight loss can include, but are not limited to:

·         Reduced appetite, with a lack of interest in food and drink in general

·         Inability to focus and concentrate

·         Feeling tired all the time, even when sedentary

·         A general feeling of being weaker than usual

·         Getting sick often and taking a longer time to recover.

It is estimated that malnutrition affects between 35-43 per cent of patients in Australian hospitals, increasing the length of hospital stays and the likelihood of unplanned readmissions. An Australian study into the prevalence of malnutrition across eight residential aged care facilities found it ranged from 32-72%.

According to Ms Chambers, malnutrition appears in her clinic in many forms and for many reasons.

“A common case I see is an elderly person who may live alone, they no longer have a partner or family to cook for and have lost their appetite and desire for cooking. This leads to losing a lot of weight, becoming quite weak and frail.  Another common case I see is a young patient with cancer who is undergoing treatment which is making them feel very nauseous and they’ve completely lost their appetite and are losing weight rapidly.

“In these cases, simply just eating a better diet isn’t often an option, so a nutritional supplement in liquid form is often recommended to help these patients meet their daily nutritional needs, improve their energy levels and in many cases, get them through their treatments.”

There is some good news – malnutrition can be treated and prevented. However, this latest consumer survey reveals only 1 in 5 Australians feel they would know how to treat someone who is malnourished.

“Help is available by seeking advice from a healthcare professional and by considering treatment options that help meet daily nutritional needs when diet is not enough. An increased intake of essential nutrients like protein, vitamins and minerals, fibre and fluids are included in malnutrition treatment plans, says Mr Quigley.

“My hope with being a part of the Missing Malnourished Campaign is to help everyday Aussies understand more about malnutrition, it’s symptoms and how it can be treated,” says Ms Chambers.

Anyone can become malnourished, but it's more common in people who have long-term health conditions that affect appetite, weight and/or how well nutrients are absorbed by the gut. Those most at risk of malnutrition in Australia, are the elderly, those who have eating disorders, people with gut health conditions such as Crohn's disease, and people with medical conditions such as cancer, HIV, or kidney failure, that mean they need more nutrients.

To learn more and find out if you, or someone you love, is at risk of malnutrition, take the free Missing Malnourished quiz at http://www.malnutritionawareness.com.au/. If you are at risk, it’s always best to speak to a healthcare professional first as they’re best placed to assess and provide an official diagnosis, plus advise on the best treatment for a person’s particular health situation.