malnourished

This term describes a physiological state of deficiency and carries a clinical, serious tone. It is frequently used in humanitarian and medical contexts to describe populations affected by famine or systemic poverty, where the lack of food is absolute.

Crucially, the word distinguishes between caloric intake and nutritional quality. A person can be overweight or obese yet still be malnourished if their diet lacks essential vitamins and minerals. This creates a pragmatic distinction between hunger (the sensation of needing food) and malnourishment (the biological state of nutrient deficiency).