PETALING JAYA: Being thin is not the only sign of malnutrition - even those who appear to be overweight can suffer from it, particularly when battling chronic illnesses, warn experts.
Highlighting the risk of disease-related malnutrition (DRM), Prof Dr Barakatun Nisak Mohd Yusof said the condition is often overlooked as most patients are usually treated only for their primary conditions.
"When a patient has cancer, that's treated, but the malnourishment or loss of appetite that comes with it is often overlooked," said the Malaysian Dietitians' Association (MDA) president.
Certain diseases such as cancer (particularly gastrointestinal and lung cancers), heart failure, complicated diabetes and post-surgery recovery are major contributors to DRM, she said.
"These conditions cause inflammation and poor nutrient intake, reducing appetite, altering metabolism and accelerating muscle breakdown.
"That is why DRM is sometimes called 'hidden malnutrition', because it is not always visible by body size alone," she added.
She added that the consequences of untreated malnutrition were severe, including longer hospital stays, higher infection risks, and increased healthcare costs.
Prof Barakatun, who is also deputy dean at Universiti Putra Malaysia's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, said a study found that 43.5% of cancer patients in Malaysia were malnourished, while around 21% of elderly inpatients faced the same issue.
Even if the patients appear to be eating, their body's ability to process nutrients properly is impaired, she said.
"Children with congenital heart disease or childhood cancers have higher nutrient needs but reduced intake due to treatment side effects.
"For older adults, age-related muscle loss worsens outcomes when combined with chronic disease," she said.
According to MDA vice-president Prof Dr Winnie Chee, while there is no specific medication for DRM, nutrition support from dietitians is crucial.
"Dietitians assess, diagnose and intervene early, identifying silent signs of malnutrition and tailoring nutrition therapy to each patient," she said.
To raise awareness of the issue, dietitians marked this year's Malaysian Dietitians' Day with the theme "Dietitians Combat DRM: Addressing Malnutrition in All Forms".