Protein energy malnutrition causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Omodamola Aje B.Sc, M.D. [2]

Protein energy malnutrition may be caused by reduced breast feeding, poor weaning practices, limited availability of food and inadequate child care in cases of extreme poverty. This classically affects several poor people in regions of poor social and economic background. Other environmental causes such as infections, drought and earthquakes leading to decreased availability of food have also been identified.

Protein energy malnutrition may be caused by:^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]}

• Economic and social factors:
  • Extreme poverty prevents parents from buying healthy and nutritious meals for their children
  • Limited availability of food due to floods and earthquake
  • Reduced breast feeding and poor weaning practices
  • Poor distribution of food to reach people in the remote areas
• Environmental factors:
  • Infections such as diarrhea.
  • Scarcity of food due to floods, earthquakes and poor agricultural practices
• Age:
  • Increased nutritional requirements for growth
• Biological factors:
  • Maternal undernutrition
  • Infectious diseases such as measles and diarrhea
• Level of education and sanitation
• Season and climate conditions
• Cultural and religious food customs

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