Complementary Feeding: A Critical Approach for Prevention of Malnutrition in Infants and Young Children

Malnutrition can be defined as the shortage or surplus/imbalance of energy, protein and other nutrients causing measurable detrimental effects on the body function. It is also the cellular imbalance between the supply of nutrients and energy and the body’s demand for them to ensure growth. Malnutrition could be under nutrition which is characterized by stunting, wasting, underweight. It could also be over nutrition which is evidenced in overweight and obesity. Malnutrition can occur as a result of micronutrient deficiency known as hidden hunger and it could also be protein energy malnutrition which results in Kwashiorkor and Marasmus.