how does malnutrition affect the health of a child?

Question: how does malnutrition affect the health of a child?
- Keywords:
  child,
  health,
  malnutrition
Asked by 325hthj1724 to Caroline on 4 Jul 2017.
- Caroline Ogwang answered on 4 Jul 2017:
  
  Hi 325hthj1724,
  
  Our bodies need different nutrients to be able to function properly. A malnourished child’s body is not able to function normally due to lack of sufficient nutrients e.g. they have a weak immune system that puts them at increased risk of becoming sick, they have low energy reserves making them weak, they are not able to grow normally (they may be shorter and thinner than their age-mates, have weak bones). Children also require sufficient nutrients for their brain to develop.