What does being malnourished imply?

Being malnourished implies that there is an imbalance in the nutrients consumed, which can manifest in eating either too much or too little food. Malnutrition isn't limited to one specific eating behavior or dietary pattern; it encompasses a range of issues related to insufficient or excessive intake of calories and nutrients.

When someone consumes too much food, they may experience obesity alongside related health complications. Conversely, consuming too little can lead to wasting, a state of severe energy deficiency. Both of these scenarios highlight the core idea of malnutrition as an inadequate nutritional state, whether through overconsumption or underconsumption.

While deficiencies in vitamins and minerals are associated with malnutrition, they are more a consequence of specific dietary inadequacies rather than a direct definition of the overall condition. Thus, the broader implication of malnutrition as both excessive and insufficient intake aligns most closely with the first option.