European Nutrition For Health Alliance : Malnutrition Is Europe's Silent Killer - Challenge Not Limited To The Developing World

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 21 Oct 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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The European Nutrition for Health Alliance (ENHA) has launched a Europe-wide health promotion and education campaign this month to underline nutrition as a basic human need.

'Air, Water, Nutrition: It's a Basic Need' seeks to drive awareness among healthcare practitioners and stakeholders across Europe and to prompt action and best practice sharing.

"Malnutrition has an adverse impact on people's health and wellbeing and represents a healthcare and societal cost equal to that of obesity," explains Professor Olle Ljungqvist, Professor of Surgery, Metabolism & Nutrition at the Karolinska Institute and Chairperson of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. (ESPEN)

"40% of patients in hospitals and between 40 and 80% of people in elderly care homes are malnourished. Lack of adequate nutrition in the community, in residential care and in hospitals inhibits patient recovery, lengthens the stay and increases mortality. Our most recent data from NutritionDay, a pan-European study from 16,000 patients in 25 countries, shows that less than half the patients in hospitals eat their meals and that poor nutritional intake increases the risk of dying in the hospital by up to 3 times. In addition, very few measures were taken to improve intake."

The 'Air, Water, Nutrition - it's a basic need' campaign is calling for malnutrition and nutritional care to be given a higher priority, with systems for prevention and detection put in place. It is important that policies focus on all those involved in the care of vulnerable groups, including the general public as well as social and health professionals, healthcare managers, health insurers, patients, policymakers and politicians.

"We are also working to raise the issue at EU level in Brussels," explains Professor Ljungqvist. "As Europe faces an aging population, with increasing numbers of people over 70, the challenge will grow. We are calling for the EU27 to create coherent policies for nutritional support across health and social care systems."

Source
Monika Wcislo
Weber Shandwick

European Nutrition for Health Alliance (ENHA)