General information and signalling

The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) defines malnutrition as “An acute or chronic condition in which a deficiency or imbalance of energy, protein and other nutrients leads to measurable adverse effects on body composition, function and clinical outcomes .”

In a consensus statement by ESPEN (2016) on the terminology of clinical nutrition, and related disorders and conditions, malnutrition is regarded as a nutrition-related disorder, in addition to sarcopenia and frailty, overweight, obesity, micronutrient abnormalities and the refeeding syndrome.