FIGHTING MALNUTRITION: THE VITAL ROLE OF PHARMACIES
Malnutrition is not a distant problem but a stark reality for many individuals across the UK.
M
alnutrition is a condition that is often preventable, and pharmacists, as accessible healthcare professionals,
play a pivotal role in identifying, addressing, and supporting malnourished patients in our local communities. In this article, we will explore the critical aspects of malnutrition, the pharmacy's central role, and how collective awareness and action can make a difference.
Understanding malnutrition Malnutrition includes both undernutrition and overnutrition. It is a condition where an individual's diet lacks the essential nutrients necessary for optimal health. Malnutrition can manifest in various ways: • Undernutrition: This is when the diet doesn't provide sufficient calories or essential nutrients, leading to weight loss, muscle wasting, fatigue, and a weakened immune system. It is often associated with conditions like anorexia, chronic illnesses, or poverty.
• Overnutrition: Contrary to undernutrition, overnutrition occurs when a person consumes excess calories, often leading to obesity. Paradoxically, overnutrition can coexist with undernutrition when a diet is high in calories but low in essential nutrients.
The hidden epidemic Malnutrition is not confined to far-off regions or impoverished nations; it is a prevalent issue in local communities across the UK and can go unnoticed amidst the abundance of food. In Northern Ireland, The Trussell Trust provided 81,084 emergency food parcels between April 2022 and March 2023, which represents the most food parcels the charity has ever distributed in the region in a single year. The Trust said it was "particularly alarming" that more than 35,000 emergency parcels were for children. From 1 April 2023, the Department of Education (DE) has also stopped "holiday hunger" payments for children entitled to free school meals, increasing the risk of malnutrition in vulnerable children.
Several factors contribute • Isolation and loneliness: Many elderly individuals are at risk of malnutrition due to social isolation, which can result in a lack of interest in cooking or eating alone.
• Financial constraints: Poverty or limited resources can restrict access to nutritious
16
scottishpharmacist.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
