Are you sufficiently informed about malnutrition? A survey highlights this little-known nutritional imbalance among the French, which can nevertheless have serious consequences on daily life.
More and more French people are affected by problems linked to malnutrition, which therefore appear to be a major public health issue. A survey was carried out to find out the opinions of the French on obesity and malnutrition. There were 1,005 respondents, aged 18 and over. The survey took place from March 15 to 18, 2024.
According to the survey, more than half of them think that cases of obesity (88%) and malnutrition (65%) are more frequent than ten years ago. An opinion that seems to be mainly shared by older people. If the majority of French people seem to be sufficiently informed about obesity, this is not the case for malnutrition… We take stock of this survey!
Less than half of French people feel fairly informed about undernutrition
According to the results of the survey, undernutrition seems to be a subject little known by the French since only 43% say they feel sufficiently informed at this level. A percentage 25% lower than that of obesity!
When we look at the details, 48% of French people believe they feel well informed about its consequences, 45% about its causes and 43% about its prevention. Only 10% of French people think they are very well informed about these elements.
A disease often associated with poor lifestyle
Even more strongly than for obesity, undernutrition is perceived by people living in Europe as being closely linked to a poor lifestyle. 86% think that this disease is due to unhealthy habits. Only 13% of French people believe that it results from genetic factors.
On the other hand, only a third (37%) consider that this pathology is properly supported by the health system, and 33% think that it is taken seriously within the population.
NO to diets, YES to WW!
A dangerous and disabling disease
When the French are asked about the negative effects of malnutrition, 88% indicate that this disease can prevent them from living normally, and 74% that it can be a factor of discrimination for the people concerned.
Furthermore, almost all people living in Europe (97%) seem aware that undernutrition can cause significant risks. 49% even consider these risks to be very important.
And in fact, according to the Health Insurance website, the repercussions of undernutrition are multiple:
- a lack of healing after a surgical procedure or after a wound,
- a reduction in immunity resulting in: more frequent and more severe infections, particularly bronchopulmonary, intestinal, superinfections of wounds, a poorer immune response after vaccination,
- weakness of the muscles of the arms and legs responsible for a reduction in physical activity and a risk of falling, especially in the elderly,
- slower emptying of the stomach after meals with poor digestion and constipation,
- irritability, a depressive tendency, difficulty concentrating and memory problems,
- hormonal imbalance with amenorrhea, delayed puberty, reduced libido and fertility,
- a tendency to feel cold due to dysregulation of thermoregulation.
Signs that should not be taken lightly and which should lead concerned people to consult a doctor in order to identify the causes of this malnutrition.
