•Doctors have a unique
role in managing malnutrition
•Identify obesity: advise children, women before and
during pregnancy, those with
weight-related disease
•Identify those with significant nutritional needs:
children-growing or developing poorly
anaemic children, women and the elderly
pregnant, deprived or at-risk women
underweight adults – BMI <18.5kg/m2 or unintentional
weight loss
chronic illness – liver, kidney disease,
osteoporosis, depression
alcohol excess at any age
anyone with symptoms or signs of nutritional
deficiency
•Assess risk factors for undernutrition – poor intake,
alcohol, smoking, illness,
medical drugs, poor sun exposure
•Investigate – tests for anaemia, vitamin and mineral
status, x-Rays
•Treat – diet, supplements, disease management, lifestyle
change
•Measures to reduce smoking, alcohol excess and
inactivity
•Measures to improve local and national food provision