Perspective Chapter: Early Diagnosis of Malnutrition

Abstract

Low body mass index (BMI) and unintentional weight loss are the criteria used in many nutritional screening tools (NSTs) to identify the nutritional status of patients and the elderly. However, in hospitals, nursing homes, and communities, weight is often unmeasured. Therefore, we researched the current situation of inadequate nutritional screening due to a lack of weight measurements and what should be done to improve this situation. We conducted a narrative review of peer-reviewed research on nutritional screening, NSTs, missing NST parameters, regular weight measurements, awareness of malnutrition among physicians and others, and nutrition support based on PubMed and J-stage. The NSTs included mostly weight or weight-based parameters (BMI and weight loss). Our findings suggest that, since patients and the elderly do not weigh themselves regularly, they are unaware of their weight loss and do not receive proper nutritional care. The results also show that physicians do not often recognize nutritional problems that require nutritional intervention and do not order nutritional intervention by dietitians. Moreover, patients and community residents at risk of malnutrition do not recognize anorexia and weight loss as nutritional problems. Multidisciplinary and collaborative nutritional interventions are needed to reduce the risk of malnutrition in patients and the elderly.