Malnutrition occurs when the body doesn’t get the proper amount of nutrients and calories needed to stay healthy. It can occur in both adults and children. Malnutrition can result from not having enough to eat or not being able to eat or process food normally due to certain diseases or health conditions and their treatments. Being malnourished can affect how you feel, how you recover from surgery, and how long you may be in the hospital. People with malnutrition often need additional sources of nutrition including oral supplements or enteral or parenteral nutrition.
Malnutrition Awareness Week
ASPEN has created Malnutrition Awareness Week, an annual international campaign to raise awareness, educate, and advocate for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in healthcare and the community.
Malnutrition Resources for Healthcare Professionals
ASPEN is dedicated to reducing malnutrition by equipping healthcare professionals with the educational support and resources they need to make a real difference.
Malnutrition Resources for Patients and Caregivers
ASPEN has developed resources to help patients and caregivers identify and understand malnutrition, as well as tips on talking to their healthcare providers.
Advocating for malnutrition prevention and treatment
ASPEN engages with legislators and policymakers to highlight that malnutrition is a public health issue that raises costs and leads to poor health outcomes.
Malnutrition Awareness WeekTM is a mark of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN).