You can experience an increase in how much nutrition you are losing when you for example have very loose stools (diarrhoea) or an oozing wound. This could be for a wide variety of reasons, such as having no appetite when they are sick or nauseous or being unable to eat or drink due to swallowing problems. People can experience an inadequate intake of food, or specific nutrients, when they are unable to eat enough. Inadequate intake (ie: not eating enough).In Ireland, people who are most at risk of not eating enough and malnutrition are:Ĭommon causes of malnutrition can be divided into three main factors: It often leads to weight loss, muscle loss, fatigue, delayed wound healing, increased risk of infection and falls. Malnutrition is a condition where a person is not eating enough calories, protein or micronutrients. When in doubt, you should speak to a dietitian in your hospital or linked to your GP. The treatment plan for you or your loved one may be different. Please do be aware that the information is generalised. Let’s take a closer look at malnutrition before we go back to the differences between healthy eating when you are well and sick/unwell. One in four people admitted to hospitals around Ireland are malnourished. Malnutrition is more common than we think. Surprisingly however, the vast majority of dietitians in Ireland are found working in hospitals and health centres helping people to eat more!ĭietetics when working in a hospital is often quite different to working with people who are well and at home. Most people have heard of dietitians working with people to help them lose weight. Many dietitians in hospitals work only with people who are sick and are struggling to eat because they have no appetite. Dietitians work in a wide range of settings, and with a large variety of people. There I help people who are often sick and unwell to recover from, or preferably avoid, malnutrition. While I spend a lot of my online time, as in, on my Youtube, Pinterest and Facebook channels, talking about healthy eating and healthy lifestyles – another half of my week is spent working in a large acute hospital here in Dublin. There is a week in the middle of March that is special in the dietitian’s calendar! It is international Nutrition and Hydration week! What we aim to do during this week is highlight, promote and celebrate improvements in the provision of nutrition and hydration throughout the world! So what better week than to look at two aspects of nutrition that I have worked with in depth so far in my career – Eating when well and when sick/unwell.Īre you interested to learn more about the role of a dietitian? Or are you looking for information for yourself or a loved one? Let us know in the comments below and I am happy to answer any questions this topic might raise! So today we will explore some of the differences between healthy eating when well, and unwell! And typical healthy eating advice may not always be the answer here. What should I eat when I’m sick? Should I eat differently when I am unwell? What do I eat when I have no appetite? And my doctor told me to gain weight again now that I am recovering after a period of illness!ĭietitians often work with people who wish to lose weight, but many also work with people who want to regain weight! There is a split in the advice your dietitian will give you that depends largely how well you are and how good your appetite is.
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