Susceptible to diseases due to reduced resistance

The ability to absorb nutrients is poor, so it is easy to get gastrointestinal diseases or after a severe illness, the patient feels no appetite and does not want to eat despite being provided with nutritious food. Prolonged vomiting or diarrhea depletes nutrients. Ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease reduces the ability to tolerate nutrients from food. Patients with peptic ulcer disease or liver and biliary diseases often face indigestion, loss of appetite, and eventually malnutrition.

Infectious diseases in the digestive tract, or the use of antibiotics that cause an imbalance between the number of beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria in the intestinal tract also reduces absorption. A deficiency of essential nutrients, most commonly a deficiency of protein, vitamins, and minerals. The consequence of the body not getting enough nutrients is a decline in the functioning of the organs. This is especially important in children, especially at the time when children have high nutritional needs from 6-24 months of age.