Lack of proper nutrition is best described as which of the following?

• A. Obesity
• B. Malnutrition
• C. Anemia
• D. Dehydration

Answer: (B)

When the body doesn’t receive enough or the right balance of nutrients from food and fluids, the result is malnutrition. This term covers both not getting enough calories or protein (undernutrition) and missing essential vitamins and minerals (micronutrient deficiencies), as well as imbalances in intake. That makes malnutrition the best description for a lack of proper nutrition.

Obesity involves excess body fat from consuming more calories than the body needs, which is a form of overnutrition rather than a lack of nutrition. Anemia is a specific health condition often caused by a nutrient deficiency (like iron) but it’s a consequence of poor nutrition, not the general description of lacking proper nutrition. Dehydration refers to insufficient fluid intake and, while hydration is part of overall nutrition, it isn’t the general term for insufficient or imbalanced nutrient intake.