Malnutrition is more likely to happen when people:

• Do not know how to eat a healthy diet
• Do not feel hungry
• Need to avoid certain foods
• Have trouble tasting, chewing, swallowing, or digesting food
• Have trouble shopping for food
• Live alone (especially older men) or in a care facility
• Cannot afford food

The following conditions can also lead to malnutrition:

• Recent surgery or hospital stay
• Alcohol or substance use
• Cognitive impairment (problems with thinking and remembering)
• Inability to exercise
• Depression
• Pain
• Certain medications and diseases

Last Updated May 2026