undernourishment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undernourishment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of not receiving enough nutrients or food necessary for health and growth. Example: "The report highlighted the alarming rates of undernourishment among children in developing countries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Click on a country and population figures, the number of those undernourished, the prevalence of undernourishment and daily dietary energy supply pop up.

The Guardian

Undernourishment causes anemia in pregnant mothers and their children and means that children are more prone to diseases through their weakened immune systems.

The Guardian

Villagers whose neighbours are all stunted often see undernourishment as normal and will buy, say, a television or phone with any extra money, rather than better food.

The Economist

More than half the nursery's charges are below their proper weight ("wasted" in the jargon) or short for their age ("stunted", a result of years of undernourishment).

The Economist

A policy may cut undernourishment, such as Brazil's Bolsa Família, which pays mothers if their children attend school, where they get free meals.

The Economist

The Global Hunger Index, devised by the International Food Policy Research Institute, a think-tank based in Washington, DC, tracks the progress in combating hunger and undernourishment, which includes the quality as well as the quantity of a diet.

The Economist

It can cause early death, chronic undernourishment, illness and illiteracy.

The Economist

These include dirty water, gross undernourishment and infectious disease.

The Economist

What this suggests is that someone getting less than 80% of his or her calories from a staple is past the point where conquering hunger is the primary motivation driving food purchases.The economists use this threshold to measure the extent of undernourishment in nine Chinese provinces, where 16,000 individuals in 3,800 households were surveyed several times between 1991 and 2000.

The Economist

This means it provides better estimates of chronic undernourishment but, as the report itself says, "does not fully capture the effects of price spikes".The FAO has also improved its data collection.

The Economist

Other millions who had remained at home were physically exhausted by five years of strain, suffering, and undernourishment.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing global health issues, use "undernourishment" to precisely convey the problem of insufficient nutrient intake, differentiating it from broader terms like "poverty" or "food insecurity".

Common error

Avoid using "hunger" interchangeably with "undernourishment". While related, "hunger" describes the sensation of wanting food, whereas "undernourishment" refers to the actual deficiency of essential nutrients, even if caloric intake is sufficient.

Linguistic Context

The term "undernourishment" functions primarily as a noun, denoting the state of being inadequately nourished. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in English, with numerous examples illustrating its role in describing nutritional deficiencies across various populations and contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

41%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "undernourishment" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun that describes the state of not receiving enough nutrients. Ludwig AI's analysis of numerous examples shows that it is employed across various contexts, particularly in news, scientific reports, and encyclopedic entries. While alternatives like "malnutrition" and "undernutrition" exist, "undernourishment" specifically emphasizes the deficiency in nutrient intake. The usage analysis indicates that it's important to differentiate it from "hunger", which refers to the sensation of wanting food. It is crucial to be precise when using "undernourishment" in discussions about global health and nutritional deficiencies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malnutrition

Refers to a broader category of nutritional imbalances, including both undernutrition and overnutrition.

undernutrition

Specifically describes insufficient intake of nutrients, very similar to undernourishment.

nutritional deficiency

Indicates a lack of specific nutrients required for health.

severe malnutrition

Highlights the severity of the nutritional deficit and its potential consequences.

nutrient deprivation

Focuses on the lack of essential nutrients required for proper bodily function.

food insecurity

Focuses on the lack of reliable access to sufficient quantities of affordable, nutritious food.

chronic hunger

Emphasizes the persistent and long-term nature of insufficient food intake.

starvation

Represents the most extreme form of undernourishment, characterized by severe deficiency in caloric energy intake.

wasting

Describes a condition of low weight-for-height, often resulting from acute undernutrition.

stunting

Indicates impaired growth and development due to chronic undernutrition.

FAQs

How is "undernourishment" measured?

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) measures "undernourishment" by assessing whether a population's food consumption is sufficient to maintain body weight and support light activity, often using caloric intake as a primary indicator.

What are the long-term effects of "undernourishment"?

Chronic "undernourishment" can lead to stunted growth, weakened immune systems, cognitive impairments, and increased susceptibility to diseases, significantly affecting overall quality of life and life expectancy.

What can I say instead of "undernourishment"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "malnutrition", "undernutrition", or "nutritional deficiency". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does "undernourishment" differ from "food insecurity"?

"Undernourishment" specifically refers to the state of not receiving enough nutrients, while "food insecurity" describes the condition of lacking reliable access to sufficient quantities of affordable, nutritious food. One can experience food insecurity without being undernourished, and vice versa.