Dietetic Technician Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Malnutrition is defined as an imbalance in the intake of energy or nutrients, which encompasses both undernutrition and overnutrition. It occurs when an individual does not receive the right amount of nutrients or energy required for their health. This can manifest as insufficient consumption of essential nutrients, leading to deficiencies and health issues, or excessive intake, which can result in overweight and obesity.

An imbalance may result from a variety of factors, including diet quality, socioeconomic conditions, certain health conditions, or insufficient education about nutrition. Understanding malnutrition in this broader context is crucial for addressing dietary needs and improving overall health outcomes.

The other options do not encompass the complete definition of malnutrition. Excess intake of vitamins only implies a specific type of overnutrition, thus failing to capture the full scope of malnutrition, which includes various forms of nutrient imbalance. Perfect body weight reflects a state of health but does not address nutritional deficiencies or excesses, and the inability to digest food pertains more to digestive disorders rather than the broader concept of malnutrition itself.