malnutrition

This term describes a physiological imbalance rather than a simple lack of food. While often associated with starvation or famine, it encompasses any dietary deficiency, including overnutrition where an excess of calories is paired with a lack of essential vitamins and minerals.

As an uncountable noun, it refers to the general state or condition of poor nutrition. It does not have a plural form in standard usage and requires partitive constructions like "cases of malnutrition" when referring to individual instances.