What is a common cause of malnutrition in hospitalized older adults?

What is a common cause of malnutrition in hospitalized older adults?

• A. Overhydration.
• B. Inadequate intake due to illness, decreased appetite, or functional decline leading to catabolic stress.
• C. Excessive intake.
• D. Too much protein.

Answer: (B)

In hospitalized older adults, malnutrition is most often driven by not getting enough nutrients because illness, reduced appetite, and functional changes increase nutrient needs while decreasing intake. Illness and inflammation raise metabolic demands and can blunt appetite, making meals less appealing or harder to tolerate. Functional decline—from fatigue, difficulty with walking or preparing meals, or swallowing problems—further limits how much food a person can eat or obtain. When intake falls short of what the body requires for maintenance and healing, catabolic stress kicks in and nutrients are used faster than they’re available, leading to malnutrition. Other options describe situations that don’t typically cause malnutrition in this setting. Overhydration relates to fluid balance rather than nutrient intake. Excessive intake or too much protein implies too much nutrition, which isn’t the issue when malnutrition is the problem.

In hospitalized older adults, malnutrition is most often driven by not getting enough nutrients because illness, reduced appetite, and functional changes increase nutrient needs while decreasing intake. Illness and inflammation raise metabolic demands and can blunt appetite, making meals less appealing or harder to tolerate. Functional decline—from fatigue, difficulty with walking or preparing meals, or swallowing problems—further limits how much food a person can eat or obtain. When intake falls short of what the body requires for maintenance and healing, catabolic stress kicks in and nutrients are used faster than they’re available, leading to malnutrition.

Other options describe situations that don’t typically cause malnutrition in this setting. Overhydration relates to fluid balance rather than nutrient intake. Excessive intake or too much protein implies too much nutrition, which isn’t the issue when malnutrition is the problem.