Dietitians' tips for avoiding malnutrition

Dietitians Emma Carran and Micaela Makker have offered some advice to help avoid malnutrition.

A pair of Whanganui dietitians are trying to raise awareness about the dangers of malnutrition.

Whanganui District Health Board dietitians Emma Carran and Micaela Makker are using Malnutrition Awareness Week to get more information about the issue out in the public domain.

Malnutrition develops when a person doesn't consume enough calories, protein, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, which can have a significant impact on a person's health outcomes.

Carran highlighted a 2014 Auckland study of patients at the Waitemata District Health Board that showed more than a quarter of elderly people who participated were malnourished.

The study, which looked at 234 patients with an average age of 84, found nearly half of them were also at risk of malnutrition.

Carran said problems with swallowing, low body mass index, low muscle strength and poor cognition were conditions which commonly increased a person's risk of malnutrition.

She said treating malnutrition and its risks led to a number of benefits such as reducing the risk of falls and fractures, keeping people mobile and independent and maintains the immune system.

The two dietitians' advice for people who think they or their loved one might be at risk of malnutrition was to see a GP or a dietitian.

They also said it was good to eat three meals a day with snacks in between, introduce milky drinks like milkshakes and smoothies, add sauces and gravies to meals as well as custard and ice cream to desserts.

Planning meals and cooking when you have the most energy and keeping the house stocked with plenty of pre-prepared meals and easy foods would also be helpful.