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
