Identifying and managing malnutrition in people with learning disabilities

People with learning disabilities are at greater risk of malnutrition compared with the general population. Congenital conditions and mental health issues significantly increase this risk. Further, inadequate access to equipment, such as weighing scales, and challenges related to the provision of social support can be barriers to ensuring adequate nutritional status in this population. This article discusses malnutrition as a health inequality experienced by people with learning disabilities. It describes the effects of malnutrition in this population, explores how to identify the causes of malnutrition and outlines various management strategies. The authors also consider some of the challenges associated with managing malnutrition in people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, dysphagia and dementia.