Malnutrition can be defined as having an inadequate or unbalanced intake of nutrients. There are 4 main types of malnutrition but this course will focus on one in particular. While calories and protein are both important, one should be the primary focus of concern. Determining nutrient needs is complicated as requirements vary between individuals and populations, though estimates can be made through clinical evaluations or equations.

1. Defining Malnutrition
Howard Leathers

2. Defining Malnutrition
categories of malnutrition
• Definition
• 4 types of malnutrition
• Which of the types of malnutrition will this
course focus on?

3. Calories or Protein?
• Which of these should be the focus of our
concern?

4. How much of a nutrient is enough?
• Individual differences
• A distribution of needs (bell shaped curve).
• RDA. Why no RDA for calories?
• Calorie requirements: estimate with clinical
workup, or estimate with an equation.