Malnutrition

Malnutrition services for Townsville & North Queensland

Engaging with Alliance Rehabilitation gives you access to a multidisciplinary team who will ensure you are achieving optimal health and total wellbeing. Our goal-oriented therapy is customised to each individual, so you are receiving the best care for your situation and needs. Malnutrition is multifactorial and therefore needs a multidisciplinary approach for the best chance of recovery.

What is Malnutrition?

Malnutrition is a serious condition which occurs due to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in an individual’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. You can become malnourished for many reasons. However, the risk is much higher if you do not eat enough, eat the right types of food, or if your body is not able to effectively absorb certain nutrients.

It consists of two groups of conditions, undernutrition and overnutrition.

Undernutrition
- Wasting – Low weight for height which indicates recent and severe weight loss.
- Stunting – Low height for age which is the result of chronic or recurrent undernutrition.
- Underweight – Low weight for age.
- Micronutrient deficiencies – Lack of vitamins and minerals essential for body functions such as producing enzymes, hormones, and other vitamins/minerals needed for growth and development.
Overnutrition
- Excess of energy intake, leading to becoming overweight or obese which can lead to diet related noncommunicable diseases e.g., heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.
- Micronutrient deficiencies – Lack of vitamins and minerals essential for body functions such as producing enzymes, hormones, and other vitamins/minerals needed for growth and development.

What causes malnutrition?

Malnutrition is associated with poor health and can occur in anybody who is not receiving the right balance of nutrients to function optimally. The World Health Organisation estimates around 1.9 billion adults are overweight (over nutrition) while 462 million are underweight (under nutrition).

The below section refers to underweight malnutrition. This type of malnutrition can cause long term health problems which is why early detection and prevention is key. Risks include:

Higher infection risk
Increased falls
Longer hospital stays
Loss of strength
Poor immunity
Reduced quality of life
Shorter life expectancy or risk of mortality

Malnutrition is more commonly linked to hospital and aged care settings. Physical and mental health conditions can increase your risk of becoming malnourished especially if they cause vomiting, changes in bowel habit, and loss of appetite. Conditions such as Crohn’s Disease, Coeliac Disease, and Ulcerative Colitis can also increase your risk of becoming malnourished.

It can be difficult to identify malnutrition, but many environmental and societal factors can play a part in malnourishment. This includes:

An elderly person with an acute illness
A person with dementia
Physical disability
Respiratory illnesses – COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
Eating Disorders
Chronic dieters
Bariatric surgery
Stress or low mood leading to an increase in eating out
Medication that decreases appetite
Food insecurity or poverty
Confusion around what foods provide appropriate nutrients
Dislike of cooking
Loss of appetite
Alcohol or drug dependency
Difficulty chewing or swallowing (dysphagia)
Increased energy needs (illness, exercise)
Living alone/ social isolation
Teeth in poor condition or loose dentures

Malnutrition-related Conditions

The most common conditions we treat, with an increased risk of malnutrition include:

Dysphagia – Difficulty chewing, and swallowing increases your risk of becoming malnourished. When treating dysphagia, it can be more difficult to achieve nutritional adequacy with a texture modified diet.
Stroke –Developing malnutrition post-stroke is common due to the chance of experiencing dysphagia, memory problems, movement issues, or loss of appetite.
Dementia – Increases the risk of poor nutrition and malnutrition due to cognitive and functional impairments and dependence.
Parkinson’s Disease – The symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease increase your risk of becoming malnourished. Malnourishment also increases the risk of falls and fractures which impacts your positive progression in rehabilitation.
Acquired Brain Injuries – These cause a reduced appetite, gastrointestinal upset, and bowel incontinence. Some injuries increase your metabolic rate which requires additional nutritional needs or tube feeds.
Elderly Care and Support– Age can cause you to experience a reduced appetite, early satiety, reduced taste, poor dentition, and age-related functional decline. These all increase your risk of malnourishment and increases the chance of having a fall.
Diabetes – It increases your health risks, and poor nutrition can cause you to develop malnutrition which exacerbates the complications of diabetes.
Autism Spectrum Disorder – Difficulty with mealtimes due to sensory sensitivities can increase your risk of becoming malnourished.

Signs and Symptoms of Underweight Malnutrition

Malnutrition can occur in any body shape or size. The signs and symptoms can be difficult to recognise as it can affect anybody including someone who looks perfectly healthy. Eating a nutritionally substantial diet is important to your health and overall quality of life.

Signs and Symptoms of Malnourishment:

Unintentionalweight loss
Increase in falls
Reduced appetite, or loss of interest in foods you once enjoyed
Fatigue
Lethargy and weakness
Recurrent illnessand longer recovery
Hair loss
Poor wound healing
Constipation and dehydration
Low mood or depression
Poor concentration
Developmental and growth issues in children
Reduced libido
Loss of menstrual cycle

Specialist Supports – Feeding Tubes

Feeding tubes are an alternative way to receive nutrients if you have a condition that makes eating difficult. An Accredited Practising Dietitian is trained to provide expert support and guidance to ensure you are receiving the correct nutrients while tube feeding. They are also able to provide training and education for yourself and your family/support team.

The two types of feeding tubes are:

PEG – Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube which is placed directly into the stomach or gut.
NG – Nasogastric tube which is passed through the nose and down into the stomach.

Tube feeding can be overwhelming, and a dietitian is there to make the process easier by helping you adapt and gain confidence.

Food insecurity in Australia

Food insecurity in Australia

Food insecurity is when the availability of nutritionally adequate foods, supporting an active and healthy life, is limited or uncertain. It is a major detriment to a persons’ health and wellbeing.

Three elements of food security are:

Food Access – the ability to acquire and consume a nutritious diet. This includes the ability to buy and transport food, home storage and cooking facilities, knowledge and skills to make appropriate meal choices, and time and mobility to shop and prepare food.
Food availability – the supply of food within a community impacting the food security for individuals, households, or an entire population. This includes the location of food stores, availability within those stores, the price, quality, and variety of the food available.
Food use – the appropriate use of food due to a sound knowledge of basic nutrition and care.

Certain groups in Australia are more likely to experience food insecurity. They include:

Indigenous Australians
Unemployed people
Single parent households
Low-income earners
Rental households
Young People
Refugees or people with cultural or linguistic differences
People with no access to public or private transport
People who misuse alcohol and tobacco
People with a disability, or are unwell/frail
University students

Alliance Rehabilitation Malnutrition Support

By engaging with a multidisciplinary team in your community, you will discover how a comprehensive and collaborative approach to service will support you and your needs. Awareness of malnutrition is crucial. Increased screening and better prevention measures will equate to a better quality of life and your total wellbeing. Alliance Rehabilitation support you in your goals and take the time to really understand the needs of each person’s rehabilitation journey to provide an individualised service.

Dietetics and Nutrition

An Accredited Practising Dietitian can help you to address any nutritional concerns you may have. They can assess your health conditions, work with you and your family to set realistic and achievable goals, devise a treatment plan to optimise your diet quality and help improve your overall nutritional status.

Our dietitians are skilled at addressing any underlying causes you identify together as the source of your malnutrition.

Treatment options can include:

In depth nutrition assessments.
Recommendation of Oral Nutrition Supplements to increase your nutrient intake (if required).
Education and assistance if you are PEG or NG tube feeding.
Strategies and tips to optimise your intake towards requirements while managing symptoms such as low appetite, early satiety (feeling full), nausea, and gastrointestinal issues.
Monitoring and/or optimising your fluid intake.
Monitoring and/or management of weight and muscle mass.
Assistance with optimising eating behaviours to reach nutritional requirements.
Providing targeted dietetic advice to better manage low appetite and gastrointestinal complaints.
Our Allied Health Assistants implement malnutrition screening tools, to determine an individual’s risk of malnutrition and advocate for dietetics supports.
Optimising dietary intake to support chronic disease management.
Delivery of practical meal preparation recommendations to assist with achieving your goals.

A dietitian provides nutritional support and is a crucial role in treating and managing malnutrition. They can educate other health professionals, carers/family, and individuals in how to identify signs of malnutrition. They empower you to manage the condition and improve your nutritional status which will enhance your quality of life. Read More >

Psychology

Malnutrition can increase your risk of mental health concerns or is associated with other health issues, such as Stroke Recovery, Parkinson’s Disease, or Autism Spectrum Disorder. A Psychologist can help you manage your low mood or anxiety surrounding malnutrition, giving you the tools and strategies, you need to recover. Read More >

Speech Pathology

Speech disorders which affect your chewing and swallowing can raise your risk of becoming malnourished. Seeing a Speech Pathologist can help you target any deficits and give you the tools to decrease your risk of this occurring. Read More >

Social Work

Social Workers are skilled at helping close the gap between factors which make life more difficult. If you are experiencing food insecurity, they can help identify ways to support you such as assisting with funding applications and providing community support resources. Read More >

Exercise Physiology

Malnutrition diminishes your muscle strength which leads to falls and frailty. An Accredited Exercise Physiologist can work with you to identify any deficits and work towards your goals, without impacting your ability to regain the nutrients lost. Read More >

Occupational Therapy

Malnutrition causes low energy and can impact cognitive function which affects how you live your day-to-day life. An Occupational Therapist can help identify any issues you may have with completing activities of daily living and work towards improvements. This can include support with cooking, preparing grocery lists, daily scheduling (including grocery shopping and structured eating patterns), as well as any required adjustments needed in the home to assist with daily activities. Read More >

Physiotherapy

Malnutrition can cause you to lose a lot of energy, muscle strength, and muscle mass. By working with a Physiotherapist, they can help you to maintain your physical strength without burning you out while you recover. Read More >

Referral Options

There are many ways for you to be referred to our facility. We offer disability services as a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider. We also see participants through Medicare GP Management Plans, Private, WorkCover, NIISQ, DVA, and Corporate referrals. Our team also travel to different locations in North Queensland, so location is never a barrier to your health and recovery. Our main office is in Townsville with outreach locations available in Ayr, Charters Towers, Richmond, Hughenden, Ingham, Palm Island, and Magnetic Island.

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