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How to identify those at risk

Making each patient contact an opportunity to consider malnutrition

Identification of malnutrition: the first step in optimising patient nutrition

Considering and identifying is the first step in the successful management of patient malnutrition.1 Early identification is vital to ensure suitable nutritional support is provided to help address or prevent malnutrition.2

Understanding the potential risk factors of malnutrition can be key to identifying patients at risk. Reviewing patient medical history, including weight, medication and surgical history, alongside asking the right questions during clinical consultations, are important first steps in the identification of malnourished patients.1

Consider all care settings

Most malnutrition begins and exists in the community, and most of the malnutrition found in hospitals originates from the community.1,3,4

For older patients (defined as aged 65 and over by the NHS)5, approximately one third are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition when admitted to hospital. This increases to approximately half of those admitted to hospital from a care home.3 Therefore, identifying malnutrition in both community and hospital settings provides a significant opportunity to treat malnourished patients.3,4

Asking the right questions – making every contact count

Clinical curiosity can be a useful tool for healthcare professionals when it comes to identifying malnutrition. As it is often not visibly obvious, asking key questions can be vital in understanding whether a patient is at risk. If a patient is finding it difficult to discuss their nutrition, a close friend, family member or carer can also be a source of useful information.

Key types of questions that can help identify malnutrition in patients could include:1,6,7

  • How is your food accessed and who prepares it?
  • What is your environment around eating? Do you eat alone or with company?
  • Have you noticed any changes to your weight? Do your clothes and jewellery still fit the same as they always have?
  • Have you found that your tastes have changed, or the way you enjoy food has changed?

Looking for signs and symptoms

Recognise the signs of malnutrition.

Find out more >
  1. Holdoway A, et al (consensus panel). Managing Adult Malnutrition in the Community. 3rd edition, 2021. Available at: www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk​/library/managing_malnutrition.pdf
  2. Serón-Arbeloa, C. Malnutrition Screening and Assessment. Nutrients 2022, 14, 2392. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14122392.
  3. Hospitals Malnutrition Task Force. Available at: https://www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk​/professionals/hospitals
  4. Self-screening for malnutrition in the community, BAPEN. Available at: https://www.malnutritionselfscreening.org​/pdfs/information-for-hcps.pdf
  5. Improving care for older people, NHS England. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork​/clinical-policy/older-people/improving-care-for-older-people/
  6. Unmask malnutrition with careful questions. ACP. Available at: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326​/acpi-201504-nutrition
  7. Malnutrition: How to identify those at risk. Pharmacy Magazine. Available at: pharmacymagazine.co.uk/clinical​/malnutrition-how-to-identify-those-at-risk
References accessed February 2026.

Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or by searching for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. Adverse events should also be reported to Pharmacovigilance at Alliance Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Tel: 01249 466966, email: pharmacovigilance@alliancepharma.co.uk.