Imbalanced Nutrition: Less Than Body

Requirements: Intake of nutrients insufficient to meet metabolic

needs.
The body is like a machine that needs to be supplied with the right kind and
amount of fuel. This may refer to nutrition or the food requirements of a person
or patient. Adequate nutrition is essential to meet the bodys demands. Several
diseases can greatly affect the nutritional status of an individual, this includes
gastrointestinal malabsorption, burns, cancer; physical factors (e.g., muscle
weakness, poor dentition, activity intolerance, p[ain, substance abuse); social
factors (e.g., economic status, financial constraint); psychological factors (e.g.,
boredom, dementia, depression). In certain conditions such as
trauma, sepsis, surgery, and burns, adequate nutrition is vital to healing and
recovery. Also, religious and cultural factors greatly influence the food habits of
patients.
Imbalanced Nutrition: Less Than Body Requirements in women exhibit a higher
incidence regarding voluntary restriction of food intake secondary to anorexia,
bulimia, and self-constructed fad dieting. A pregnant woman who has eating
problems may also have problems like fetal growthrestriction. Older patients
who have cognitive impairments and encounter financial limitations have higher
chances of eating problems. This includes negligence, physical limitations,
deterioration of their senses, reduction of gastric secretion, poor digestion, and
social isolation and boredom that cause lack of interest in eating.

Related Factors
Here are some factors that may be related to Imbalanced Nutrition: Less Than
Body Requirements:

Inability to absorb or metabolize foods

Inability to digest foods

Inability to ingest foods

Inability to procure adequate amounts of food

Increased metabolic needs caused by disease process or therapy

Knowledge deficit

Unwillingness to eat

Pathophysiologic
Related to increased caloric requirements and difficulty in ingesting sufficient
calories secondary to:

AIDS

Burns (post acute phase)

Cancer

Chemical dependence

Gastrointestinal complications/deformities

Infection

Preterm infants

Trauma

Related to dysphagia secondary to:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Cerebral palsy

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Cleft lip/palate

Mbius syndrome

Muscular dystrophy

Neuromuscular disorders

Parkinsons disease

Related to decreased absorption of nutrients secondary to:

Crohns disease

Cystic fibrosis

Lactose intolerance

Necrotizing enterocolitis

Related to decreased desire to eat secondary to altered level of consciousness

Related to self-induced vomiting, physical exercise in excess of caloric intake, or
refusal to eat secondary to anorexia nervosa
Related to reluctance to eat for fear of poisoning secondary to paranoid
behavior

Related to anorexia nervosa and excessive physical agitation secondary

to bipolar disorder
Related to anorexia and diarrhea secondary to protozoal infection
Related to vomiting, anorexia, and impaired digestion secondary to pancreatitis
Related to anorexia, impaired protein and fat metabolism, and impaired storage
of vitamins secondary to cirrhosis
Related to anorexia, vomiting, and impaired digestion secondary to GI
malformation or necrotizing enterocolitis
Related to anorexia secondary to gastroesophageal reflux
Treatment Related
Related to protein and vitamin requirements for wound healing and decreased
intake secondary to:

Medications (chemotherapy)

Radiation therapy

Surgery

Surgical reconstruction of mouth

Wired jaw

Related to inadequate absorption as a medication side effect of:

Antacid

Colchicine

Neomycin

para-Aminosalicylic acid

Pyrimethamine

Related to decreased oral intake, mouth discomfort, nausea, and vomiting

secondary to:

Chemotherapy

Oral trauma

Radiation therapy

Tonsillectomy

Related to inadequate absorption as a medication side effect of:

Antacid

Antibiotics (Clotrimazole, Rifampicin)

Antiepileptics

Antihypertensives (nifedipine, spironolactone)

Antineoplastic drugs

Antiretroviral drugs (ritonavir, saquinavir)

Colchicine

Dexamethasone

Herbal medicines: Kava kava

Neomycin

Pyrimethamine

St, Johns wort (hyperforin)

Situational (Personal, Environmental)

Related to decreased desire to eat secondary to:

Allergies

Anorexia

Depression

Nausea and vomiting

Social isolation

Stress

Related to inability to procure food (physical limitation or financial or

transportation problems)
Related to inability to chew (damaged or missing teeth, ill-fitting dentures)
Related to diarrhea
Maturational
Infant/Child
Related to inadequate intake secondary to:

Inadequate production stimulation of breast milk

Lack of emotional/sensory

Lack of knowledge of caregiver

Related to malabsorption, dietary restrictions, and anorexia secondary to:

Celiac disease

Cystic fibrosis

GI malformation

Gastroesophageal reflux

Lactose intolerance

Necrotizing enterocolitis

Related to sucking difficulties (infant) and dysphagia secondary to:

Cerebral palsy

Cleft lip and palate

Neurologic impairment

Related to inadequate sucking, fatigue, and dyspnea secondary to:

Congenital heart disease

Developmental delay

Hyperbilirubinemia

Prematurity

Respiratory distress syndrome

Viral syndrome

Defining Characteristics
Imbalanced Nutrition: Less Than Body Requirements is characterized by the
following signs and symptoms:

Abdominal pain with or without pathology

Actual or potential metabolic needs in excess of intake with weight loss

Capillary fragility

Decreased serum albumin

Decreased serum transferrin or iron-binding capacity

Diarrhea and/or steatorrhea

Documented inadequate caloric intake

Dry, brittle, hair easily plucked from scalp

Excessive hair loss

Hyperactive bowel sounds

Loss of subcutaneous tissue

Loss of weight or without adequate caloric intake

Mental irritability or confusion

Muscle weakness and tenderness

Pale, dry skin

Paresthesias

Poor muscle tone

Red, swollen oral mucous membranes

Sunken fontanel in infant

The individual who is not NPO reports or is found to have food intake
less than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) with or without
weight loss

Triceps skinfold, mid-arm circumference, and mid-arm muscle

circumference less than 60% standard measurement