Symptoms of malnutrition
Malnutrition can be difficult to recognise and can happen very gradually, which can make it very difficult to spot in the early stages. Common signs and symptoms to watch out for include: loss of appetite and lack of interest in food and/or fluids unplanned weight loss – clothing, rings, watches or dentures may become loose tiredness or low energy levels reduced ability to perform everyday tasks – for example, showering, getting dressed or cooking reduced muscle strength – for example, not being able to walk as far or as fast as usual changes in mood – malnutrition can be associated with lethargy and depression poor concentration poor growth in children increased risk of infection, recurrent infections, taking longer to recover and poor wound healing difficulty keeping warm dizziness
