World Malnutrition Awareness Week begins; doctors warn about muscle loss
Focus on cancer patients, older adults and ICU patients; physicians urge early screening and individualized nutrition plans.
World Malnutrition Awareness Week begins today, drawing attention to a condition marked by loss of muscle mass and declining bodily function. Clinicians say the syndrome appears most frequently in cancer patients, older adults and people receiving intensive care.
Physicians emphasize early recognition. Proper screening at the first clinical contact allows patients to receive an individualized nutrition plan and any necessary supplements without delay, improving recovery prospects.
Expert comments and video timestamps
In accompanying video statements, Dr. Marta Treneva Nichevska, a specialist in anesthesiology and intensive care, and Dr. Dafina Nikolova from the Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology outline clinical priorities and practical measures.
The video includes short excerpts with time markers: Clip-944 01:24 (primary care physicians) – 01:48 (better outcome for the patient), and Clip-946 0:22 (at our clinic) – 0:48 (the principle is individual).
Doctors urge primary care teams and hospital services to incorporate routine nutritional screening into patient pathways, especially for the groups at highest risk. Early intervention, they say, can reduce complications and support functional recovery.
The awareness week is meant to prompt health services and caregivers to prioritize nutrition assessment and tailored therapeutic plans for vulnerable patients.
Photo: press material from the event
