The report, entitled "The cost of disease-related malnutrition in the UK and economic considerations for the use of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) in adults" found that malnutrition costs the UK more than 10.8 billion Euros a year (7.3 billion British pounds) - more than double the bill for obesity.
More than 3 million people are thought to be malnourished at any one time. The report also found that malnourished people tend to stay in hospital longer and are more prone to infections.
The effects of malnutrition include:
impaired immune responses
reduced muscle strength and fatigue
increased breathing difficulties
depression and self-neglect.
Furthermore, many people with malnutrition go undiagnosed. The BAPEN has therefore developed a simple-to-use screening tool called "Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool" (MUST) in order to identify those already suffering or at risk of malnutrition.
EPHA related article: Diet Nutrition, Physical Activity in the EU
