Undernourishment means not getting enough food or the right kinds of nutrients your body needs to stay healthy and grow properly. When someone is undernourished, they might be eating something each day, but not enough calories, protein, vitamins, or minerals to keep their body working well.

This is different from starvation, which means having almost nothing to eat. A person can be undernourished even while eating meals regularly if those meals lack important nutrients. For example, someone who eats only rice every day might feel full but still become undernourished because rice alone doesn't provide all the protein, vitamins, and minerals a growing body needs.

Undernourishment affects how people feel and function. Kids who are undernourished might feel tired all the time, get sick more easily, have trouble concentrating in school, or grow more slowly than they should. Their bodies are like cars trying to run without enough fuel or the right kind of oil.

Organizations around the world work to reduce undernourishment by helping communities grow more food and eat more balanced diets with vegetables, fruits, proteins, and grains.