Malaysian Dietitians' Day 2025

September 22, 2025

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Full Stomach, Healthy Body? Think Again!

Celebrating Malaysian Dietitians' Day 2025

The Vital Role of Dietitians in Cancer Care

Many people think that simply eating well is enough to stay healthy. In reality, nutrition is more than just food, it is about balancing the right nutrients to help your body heal, recover, and thrive, especially during illness.

For cancer patients, proper nutrition is essential for treatment success, improving quality of life, and reducing complications. Dietitians play a key role in providing personalised nutrition care, ensuring patients receive the right support at every stage of their journey.

Understanding Malnutrition

Malnutrition happens when the body does not get the right balance of nutrients — either too little or too much — affecting health and wellbeing.

There are two main types of malnutrition: Community Malnutrition & Clinical Malnutrition/Disease-Related Malnutrition

Community Malnutrition

This occurs in the general population due to an excessive or insufficient intake of certain food, leading to imbalances.

Undernutrition:
A lack of calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals needed to maintain health.
Overnutrition:
Excess calories (mainly from fat and carbohydrates) and inadequate protein, vitamins, or minerals.

How to Check Your Nutritional Status:

Body Mass Index (BMI):
- BMI < 18.5 → Underweight / Undernutrition
- BMI ≥ 23 → Overweight / Obesity / Overnutrition
Waist Circumference: (Mostly for detecting overnutrition)
- Men: > 90 cm (35 inches)
- Women: > 80 cm (32 inches)

Tips to Prevent Community Malnutrition

Practice Mindful Eating
Make conscious food choices, control portions, and tune in to your body's hunger and fullness signals.
Follow the Healthy Plate Concept
Ensure balanced nutrition by including a variety of food groups in the right proportions.
Stay Physically Active
Regular activity helps your body make better use of the nutrients you consume.

Sources: WHO, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, ESPEN, NHS

Clinical Malnutrition/Disease related Malnutrition

A condition from the lack of intake or utilization of nutrients during any disease state, resulting in weight loss, loss of skeletal muscle, physical and mental disfunction and worse clinical outcome

Common Causes:

Loss of appetite
Lack of proper nutrition care
Illness that disrupts nutrient metabolism
Ageing
Low physical activity

Did You Know?

Clinical or disease-related malnutrition is most common among cancer patients and the elderly.

Why It Matters

Without proper nutrition care, clinical or disease-related malnutrition can lead to:

Increased risk of infections

Longer hospital stays

More intensive treatments and higher treatment costs

Slower recovery and wound healing

Reduced tolerance to treatments

Lower quality of life

Signs of Clinical or Disease-Related Malnutrition

If you notice any of these symptoms, seek help from a dietitian:

Unintentional weight loss of more than 5% within 3 months

Very low body weight

Persistent tiredness or weakness

Loss of interest in eating and drinking

How Our Dietitians Can Help You

A certified dietitian provides a personalised care plan through a structured process:

Nutrition Screening – Identifying patients at risk.
Comprehensive Assessment & Diagnosis – Evaluating nutritional status and underlying issues.
Personalised Nutrition Therapy – Tailored dietary strategies to support treatment and recovery.
Monitoring & Evaluation – Tracking progress and adjusting care as needed.

Nutrition Care in Cancer Patients

Nutrition is a critical part of cancer care, but many patients face challenges such as poor appetite, difficulty eating, or changes in metabolism caused by the disease and its treatment.

Key Facts:

15%–50% of cancer patients have nutritional deficiencies at diagnosis.
43% are already malnourished, and 9% are at risk at their first oncology visit.
During treatment, up to 80% of patients may become malnourished.
Cancer-related malnutrition can cause cachexia — severe weight loss, low muscle mass, and low BMI.
Malnutrition is linked to:
- Lower tolerance to anticancer treatments
- Higher risk of treatment toxicity
- Increased complications and poorer surgical outcomes
- Longer hospital stays and higher costs
- Reduced quality of life

Reference:

WHO, ESPEN

Journal of Surgical Oncology (2024), Bossi et al. (2022)

Take Charge of Your Nutrition

Proper nutrition can make a real difference in cancer care. Don’t wait until symptoms get worse — speak with our dietitian for guidance tailored to your condition and treatment plan.

Contact Information

Contact No: +603-7457 2888

Email: dietitians.picaso@picasohospital.com

Location: Level 2, Health Screening Centre, Hospital Picaso

Book an appointment today for personalised nutrition care.

Join our Fun Nutrition Quiz!

Terms & Conditions:

The quiz is valid from 22 – 26 September 2025 only
Participants who complete the quiz are entitled to receive a mystery goodie bag
Goodie bags can only be collected at the Health Screening Centre, Level 2, Hospital Picaso, on a first-come, first-served basis

Test Your Knowledge Here:

https://form.jotform.com/252510308313444

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