JokersUpdates.com: News Stand - Malnutrition deaths are soaring in the US

The reasons for the rapid increase may include people’s difficulties in maintaining a healthy diet and a new focus in identifying malnutrition, according to a new report

Brendan Rascius in New York
Monday 05 January 2026 10:19 EST

Malnutrition deaths are soaring in the United States — particularly among seniors — and the reasons are unclear, according to a new report.

In roughly the last 10 years, deaths linked to malnutrition have skyrocketed by a factor of six, making it the fastest-growing killer in the country, The Washington Post reported, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Malnutrition, a condition where the body lacks sufficient nutrients, often leading to weight loss and muscle wasting, remains uncommon, accounting for less than one percent of overall deaths. But, its rapid rise matches increases in mental disorders and arterial disease.

Though it hits low-income individuals especially hard, cases span all U.S. states, races, genders and education backgrounds.

In fact, just one metric indicated sizable differences: age. Those aged 85 and older die from malnutrition at a rate about 60 times higher than the rest of the American population, with deaths in that group increasing about twice as fast.

https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/health-and-families/malnutrition-deaths-seniors-older-people-cdc-2026-b2894677.html