Malnutrition and disability: unexplored opportunities for collaboration

Abstract

There is increasing international interest in the links between malnutrition and disability: both are major global public health problems, both are key human rights concerns, and both are currently prominent within the global health agenda. In this review, interactions between the two fields are explored and it is argued that strengthening links would lead to important mutual benefits and synergies. At numerous points throughout the life-cycle, malnutrition can cause or contribute to an individual’s physical, sensory, intellectual or mental health disability. By working more closely together, these problems can be transformed into opportunities: nutrition services and programmes for children and adults can act as entry points to address and, in some cases, avoid or mitigate disability; disability programmes can improve nutrition for the children and adults they serve. For this to happen, however, political commitment and resources are needed, as are better data.

Noncommunicable Lung Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa. A Community-based Cross-Sectional Study of Adults in Urban Malawi

“…This is consistent with an ongoing nutritional influence on FVC, and the finding of small lungs in adults may be explained by poor nutrition causing impaired lung growth at vulnerable stages of lung development. Interest in the link between acute and chronic malnutrition and long-term disability is growing (21), and prospective studies into the effect on lung function in later life would fit well within this agenda.…”

Severe functional difficulties and disabilities in children and adolescents and the Sustainable Development Goals

“…16 On the other hand, children with disabilities may also be at higher risk of malnutrition, due to specific oral-motor and swallowing problems, 17 malabsorption problems, 18 general feeding problems, 19 as well cultural and attitudinal aspects.…”

Disability, Access to Food and the UN CRPD: Navigating Discourses of Human Rights in the Netherlands

“…The quantity and quality of food that disabled people can access may be limited by these barriers, even in developed Western countries (Webber, Sobal, & Dollahite, 2007). Inadequate access to food can also produce disability through the long-term effects of malnutrition, or exacerbate existing disability (Groce et al, 2014). Access barriers include physical barriers, attitudinal barriers, differential treatment, and inadequate information (de Jong et al, 2013).…”