What is malnutrition?

Malnutrition encompasses a broader spectrum than just undernutrition; it includes both undernutrition and overnutrition, which highlights its complex nature. An imbalanced diet can lead to a deficiency in essential nutrients or an excess, resulting in various health issues. This condition can manifest as stunted growth, weakened immune function, and increased susceptibility to disease when nutrient intake is inadequate, or as obesity and related health problems when nutrient intake is excessive. Therefore, defining malnutrition strictly in terms of an excess of nutrition, the sole absence of vitamins, or increased appetite would be overly simplistic and would not capture the nuances involved in nutritional health. The comprehensive definition provided in the correct choice thus accurately reflects the concept of malnutrition in its entirety.