Malnutrition means not getting the right nutrition your body needs to stay healthy and grow properly. This can happen in two main ways: not eating enough food overall, or eating plenty of food but missing important nutrients your body requires.

A child suffering from malnutrition might not be getting enough calories to have energy for school and play. Or they might eat enough rice or bread to feel full but lack essential vitamins and minerals found in vegetables, fruits, and protein-rich foods. Either way, their body struggles to function well. Signs of malnutrition include feeling weak and tired, getting sick often because the immune system isn't strong, having trouble concentrating, and in serious cases, not growing as tall or as strong as other children their age.

Malnutrition affects millions of children worldwide, especially in regions where food is scarce or expensive. But it can also happen in places with plenty of food if someone eats only junk food or processed snacks that fill the stomach without providing real nutrition. Your body needs a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals to build strong bones, fight off illness, heal injuries, and power your brain. When any of these are missing for too long, malnutrition develops.