Is Obesity a form of Malnutrition?

Yes, Obesity is a form of malnutrition. Malnutrition is caused by eating a diet in which nutrients are not enough or too much such that it causes health problems. It involves calories, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Deficiency of these nutrients is called under nutrition and too much of nutrients are called over nutrition. Over nutrition can result in obesity and being overweight. In some developing countries, over nutrition in the form of obesity is a major malnutrition related problem. In the United States where for the majority of people, access to food is not an issue and they have access to the surplus of non-nutritious food in addition to increase sedentary life styles. Over eating leads to many metabolic disorder diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer that may result in death. A diet of pizza, fries, crisps, pasta, cakes and many other junk foods consuming a lot of calories but few nutrients that lead malnutrition.

The processed foods are the most popular cause of obesity:

Processed foods, stuffed with high fructose corn syrup, refined flours, and Tran’s fats are high in calorie but deficient in many vital nutrients like proteins, vitamins, and minerals cause metabolic disorder diseases.

In general, foods are stripped of their nutrients during the refining process. All the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre are present in the outer layer of grains that loose during the refining process. Refined foods are also rich in calorie but deficient in other nutrients.

Ways to Prevent Obesity Related Malnutrition:-

• Eat more vegetables: Eat more plant based foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, etc that prevent obesity/overweight. They are high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, anti inflammatory compounds, fibre and essential fatty acids.
• Opt for healthy oils: Eat a healthy plant based fats such as olive oil, sunflower oil, rice bran oil, canola oil, mustard oil, soybeans oil, vegetable oil, flax, nuts and seeds to maintain the balance of fat with saturated, mono unsaturated and poly unsaturated fatty acids in the body.
• Eat lean meat: Intake of lean mass animal protein such as fish, lean meat, chicken, egg, etc is the best choice to prevent obesity related malnutrition.

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