Undernutrition

Undernourishment is most often due to not enough high quality food
available to eat. This is often related to high food prices and
poverty. A lack of breast feedingmay contribute, as may a number of
infectious diseasessuch as: gastroenteritis, pneumonia, malariaand
measleswhich increase nutrient requirements. There are two main types
of undernutrition: protein-energy malnutritionand dietary
deficiencies. Protein-energy malnutrition has two severe forms:
marasmus(a lack of protein and calories) and kwashiorkor(a lack of
just protein).