Final answer:
Underfeeding is associated with poor wound healing and hepatic steatosis due to lack of essential nutrients and protein, as well as with azotemia due to reduced renal function. It is not typically associated with hypertriglyceridemia, which is more often linked with overnutrition.
Step-by-step explanation:
Underfeeding is associated with a range of adverse health effects. The complications of insufficient nutrition include poor wound healing, due to a deficit in necessary nutrients like essential fatty acids and protein which are required for tissue repair and regeneration. Another consequence is hepatic steatosis, a condition commonly referred to as fatty liver, which is a result of altered fat metabolism and storage. Additionally, undernutrition can lead to azotemia, an elevation of blood urea nitrogen and other nitrogenous waste compounds in the blood, which often indicates impaired renal function due to a lack of protein. However, underfeeding is not typically associated with hypertriglyceridemia; this condition is more often related to overnutrition or metabolic disorders.
Specific to undernutrition is kwashiorkor, a severe syndrome caused by inadequate protein and caloric intake, characterized by edema, fatty liver, muscle wasting, and hypoalbuminemia. This condition causes osmotic imbalances, which lead to fluid buildup in areas such as the ankles, feet, and abdomen. The situation is exacerbated by the liver's inability to synthesize proteins like albumin, contributing to water retention and oedema, which are evidenced in part by an enlarged liver and abdominal distension.