Final answer:
Malnutrition is the imbalance of nutrient intake, which can be either undernutrition or overnutrition. Endemic malnutrition is chronic within a region, while epidemic malnutrition occurs suddenly and widely due to specific events.
Step-by-step explanation:
Malnutrition refers to an imbalance in a person's intake of energy or nutrients. It includes both undernutrition, which is the lack of sufficient nutrients to maintain healthy bodily functions, and overnutrition, which involves the intake of too many nutrients. Endemic malnutrition is persistent malnutrition within a certain geographic area due to prolonged problems like poverty, poor infrastructure, or chronic food shortages. Epidemic malnutrition, on the other hand, occurs when there is a sudden onset of widespread malnutrition in a population due to a disaster or a rapid change in the area's conditions that disrupt food supply
Malnutrition poses various health challenges such as stunted growth in children, increased susceptibility to diseases due to weakened immune systems, and chronic health problems. Diseases caused by nutrient deficiencies include conditions like anemia, scurvy, and rickets.
Healthy eating means consuming a balanced diet that provides all the necessary nutrients needed for good health and well-being. This includes a variety of foods in the right proportions to maintain energy balance and nutrient sufficiency.