Malnutrition: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Malnutrition is a general term for the medical condition in a person or animal caused by an unbalanced diet, either too little or too much food, or is missing one or more important nutrients.

Most commonly, malnourished people or animals either do not have enough calories in their diet, or are eating a diet that lacks protein, vitamins, or trace minerals. Medical problems arising from malnutrition are commonly referred to as deficiency diseases. Scurvy is a well-known and now rare form of malnutrition, in which the victim lacks vitamin C.