In Germany too, more than one million people suffer from malnutrition

Not only in developing countries: 1.5 million adult Germans malnourished
Malnutrition most people immediately think of developing countries in Africa or Asia. But in Germany, too, the problem is widespread. According to experts, around 1.5 million adult German citizens are malnourished.

Malnutrition not only in developing countries
When you talk about malnutrition, you usually get pictures of children in poor countries in Africa or Asia. But in Europe, too, the problem is widespread. For example, health experts in Germany warned years ago that malnutrition is becoming increasingly common among seniors. Around 1,200 specialists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland are currently working on the subject at the "Nutrition 2016" conference in Dresden.

On the subject of malnutrition, many initially think of poor developing countries in Africa. But in this country, the problem is common. Around 1.5 million adult Germans are malnourished. (Image: Africa Studio / fotolia.com)

Affected are often old and chronically ill
Although about 1.5 million people in Germany are malnourished, according to a report by the dpa news agency, "There is no attention for it." This was stated by Ingrid Acker from the Professional Association for Oecotrophology (VDOE) as the prelude to the meeting. Risk groups are especially old and chronically ill, "who like to be at home, but can not provide so well." According to experts, the problem is often forgotten by politicians and medical professionals.

One in four hospital patients malnourished
According to the president of the German Society of Nutritional Medicine (DGEM), Mathias Plauth, on average one in four patients in the hospital is malnourished. The experts are therefore calling for screening on the model of other countries, such as the United Kingdom, where patients are being screened for nutrition-related diseases. In the UK, medical professionals have long been warning of malnutrition due to growing poverty in the country.

Nutrition teams in clinics required
The German associations also demand that both ambulatory and in lice nutrition teams are used, the interdisciplinary work. "Diet is responsible for many diseases," said Plauth. According to the German Society for Geriatrics (DGG), up to two-thirds of elderly patients are unilaterally or reduced. Diseases, loneliness, increasing need for care or old-age poverty are reasons for a decreased appetite, which increases the risk of serious complications. "Patients with malnutrition have a significantly higher risk of dying or developing serious complications," Dr. Andreas Leischker, chief physician of the Clinic for Geriatrics at the Alexianer in Krefeld, in a communication of the DGG. (Ad)