Malnutrition Awareness Week: 2026

Pediatric malnutrition prevents children from achieving their full cognitive, developmental, and growth potential; thus, it should be of great concern to all pediatric clinicians. Rates of pediatric malnutrition are highly impacted by health disparities and food insecurity. Nutrition-focused quality improvement initiatives can improve the quality and equitable distribution of nutrition care, and the Malnutrition Care Score (MCS), a quality measure from the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, has been adopted by many healthcare systems to support hospitalized adults. Adopting the MCS for pediatric populations in the US and using similar nutrition-focused quality improvement initiatives for pediatric patients worldwide can improve the quality of nutrition care for diverse pediatric patients, enhance patient satisfaction with nutrition care, and improve the health of local communities. In the US, as MCS adoption expands nationally, now is the time to ensure pediatric inclusion in quality reporting and health equity initiatives. Webinar attendees will gain the practical tips necessary for implementing a nutrition-focused quality improvement measure in pediatric care settings.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe how health inequity and food insecurity contribute to pediatric malnutrition in communities.
2. Summarize how pediatric malnutrition impacts cognitive, developmental, and health outcomes.
3. Discuss how nutrition-focused quality improvement measures, such as the Malnutrition Care Score, can improve the quality and equity of nutrition care for pediatric patients.
4. Identify the necessary adaptations to the Malnutrition Care Score for use in pediatrics, including validation of screening and assessment tools.
5. Describe practical steps in implementing a nutrition-focused quality improvement measure, such as the Malnutrition Care Score, into care settings for pediatrics.

Faculty and Topics
Sarah Bellini, PhD, RDN, Associate Professor of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Kristy Paley, MS, RDN, CSPCC, LDN, Pediatric Inpatient Team Lead, Duke Children’s Hospital, Durham, NC

Molly Vega, MS, RDN, CSP, CSSD, LDN, Senior Pediatric Renal Dietitian, Renal and Pheresis Services, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX

Moderator
Patricia Becker, MS, RDN, CSP, FAND, Pediatric Nutrition Care Specialist, Co-Editor Pediatric Nutrition in Clinical Care/Jones and Bartlett Publisher, Cincinnati, OH

Level: Intermediate
UAN: JA0002345-0000-26-095-L99-P

Pediatric Content Included

Critical illness has long-term consequences for patients after their discharge from the ICU, including physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments. Collectively, post-ICU syndrome (PICS) can impact patients’ physical functioning and quality of life over the long term, as well as their ability to reintegrate into society. The physical impairment of PICS is driven by ICU-acquired weakness and muscle wasting. Nutrition interventions both during and after an ICU stay may lessen PICS and improve patient outcomes. During this webinar, the role of nutrition and other rehabilitation strategies in preventing or reducing PICS in patients following their ICU stay will be highlighted.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the consequences of critical illness, including the development of PICS and its long-term effects.
2. Discuss the role of nutrition during and after an ICU stay to prevent or reduce ICU-acquired weakness and PICS.
3. Summarize the role of rehabilitation strategies, including nutrition therapy, after the ICU and hospital stay to manage PICS.

Faculty and Topics
Fundamentals of the Post-Intensive Care Syndrome
Brad Butcher, MD, Associate Professor, Critical Care Medicine; Medical Director, ICU-3; Director, Critical Illness Recovery Center, UPMC Mercy, Pittsburgh, PA

Erica Bohdan, MS, RD, CDN, CNSC, Registered Dietitian, Real Estate Development and Facilities (RED+F), Food and Nutrition Services, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY

Josephine Dudzik, PhD, RD, CDN, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Center of Excellence for Sleep & Circadian Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY

Moderator
Rebecca A. Busch, MD, PNS, FACS, Associate Professor, Division of Acute Care and Regional General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI

Level: Intermediate
UAN: JA0002345-0000-26-096-L01-P

Surgical prehabilitation for malnourished patients is a critical intervention to optimize nutrition status and functional capacity before surgery, thereby reducing postoperative complications and hospital length of stay. Malnutrition affects up to two-thirds of patients undergoing major surgery and is strongly associated with poor surgical outcomes, including increased complications, prolonged hospitalization, and delayed recovery. Surgical patients can benefit from nutrition screening using a validated tool, individualized counseling on diet and exercise, oral nutrition supplements, and even preoperative nutrition support. Coordinating these efforts into a surgical prehabilitation program can offer surgical patients a structured, interprofessional pathway to optimize their condition before surgery and improve clinical outcomes. Join us to learn about the aspects of comprehensive surgical prehabilitation programs, how to identify patients who can benefit from interventions, and how to champion a program at your own institution.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the main components of a comprehensive prehabilitation program, including nutrition, physical activity, psychology, and medical optimization.
2. Explain the impact of prehabilitation programs on clinical outcomes.
3. Discuss logistical considerations for implementing an interprofessional prehabilitation program, including the roles of various members of the healthcare team.

Faculty and Topics
Nutrition as a Cornerstone of Multimodal Prehabilitation
Chelsia Gillis, RD, PhD, CNSC, Assistant Professor, School of Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Daniel Santa Mina, PhD, Associate Professor, Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Moderator
Paul Wischmeyer, MD, EDIC, FASPEN, FCCM, Professor of Anesthesiology and Surgery, Department of Surgery; Director, TPN/Nutrition Support Service, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC

Level: Intermediate
UAN: JA0002345-0000-26-097-L99-P

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung condition that impacts a patient’s quality of life and is known to cause significant morbidity and mortality. Currently, it is the third leading cause of mortality globally and is projected to increase. Patients with COPD present across all care settings, often in combination with other comorbidities. The distinct pathophysiology of the disease leads to malnutrition and muscle wasting, and malnutrition worsens morbidity and mortality in patients with COPD. Additionally, the impact of COPD on body composition is unique, and it is important for clinicians to understand to ensure appropriate medical and nutrition assessments of this population are conducted. This webinar will summarize the global burden of COPD and malnutrition, describe unique aspects of medical and nutrition assessment, and emphasize a multimodal approach combining nutrition, physical exercise, and pharmacological interventions to treat malnutrition in patients with COPD.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the pathophysiology that leads to malnutrition and muscle wasting in patients with COPD.
2. Discuss how malnutrition worsens clinical outcomes in patients with COPD.
3. Describe unique aspects of the medical assessment of patients with COPD, including the obesity paradox, various COPD phenotypes, and the concept of multimorbidities.
4. Summarize the multimodal approach required to improve outcomes in patients with COPD, including specific nutrition, exercise training, and pharmacological interventions.

Faculty and Topics
Annemie Schols, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

Rosanne Beijers, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

Marielle Engelen, PhD, Head Clinical Research and Co-Director, Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity (CTRAL), Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Moderator
Marielle Engelen, PhD, Head Clinical Research and Co-Director, Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity (CTRAL), Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Level: Intermediate
UAN: JA0002345-0000-26-098-L01-P

GLP-1 receptor agonists pose unique risks of malnutrition, requiring comprehensive baseline screening and ongoing monitoring. Weight loss with these medications is intentional, but loss of muscle is not deliberate and should be minimized. Patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists benefit from nutrition screening and intervention, including education and counseling on protein intake, nutrient-dense meals, gastrointestinal symptom management, resistance training to preserve lean body mass, adequate hydration, and monitoring for micronutrient deficiencies.

Learning Objectives

1. Outline mechanisms of GLP-1 in terms of inducing weight loss, including effects on muscle mass.
2. Explain why it is imperative to preserve muscle mass during weight loss.
3. Identify physical signs and symptoms of protein wasting and micronutrient deficiencies during the rapid weight loss seen with GLP-1 use.
4. List ways to prevent or reduce muscle loss during weight loss, including dietary and lifestyle modifications.

Faculty and Topics
Celtina K. Reinert, PharmD, CSP, Ambulatory Clinics Pharmacist Specialist, AAIR, Allergy, Dermatology, Rheumatology, Weight Management, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO

Carla Prado, PhD, RD, FCAHS, Professor and CAIP Chair in Nutrition, Food & Health, University of Alberta; Director, Human Nutrition Research Unit, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Colleen Dawkins, MSN, FNP-C, MS, RDN, CSOWM, Instructional Assistant Professor of Nutrition & Hospitality Management, School of Applied Sciences, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS

Moderator
Carolyn Newberry, MD, AGAF, FASPEN, FAFS, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine; Director of Nutrition Services, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NYP-Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY

Level: Intermediate
UAN: JA0002345-0000-26-099-L01-P