FlashDiet
The WHO defines malnutrition as a celular imbalance between the supply of energy and nutrients and the body’s demand to ensure growth and other specific functions. It is produced when the body does not receive sufficient energy or nutrients, but this condition is not limited to the malnourished: the obese and the overweight can also suffer from this problem. Malnutrition is not a problem exclusive to underdevelopped countries, but rather affects a large sector of the population in industrialised/developped nations. In Europe, it is estimated that close to 33 million people are at risk of malnutrition. For those over 65, the percentage of those at risk reaches 10%.
The elderly are especially vulnerable to this condition, as they usually live at home alone or in nursing homes. As well as other indicators and risk factors, appetite decreases as you age, which leads to a natural decrease in the intake of nutrients.
The consequences of malnutrition are a decrease in quality of life, an increase in mortality and a rise in the use and cost of health resources. Health professionals play an important role in detecting and acting in cases of malnutrition. However, the level of knowledge and awareness on the importance of a good nutritional state are relatively low among carers. For this reason, European public health policies promote awareness campaigns and training directed to health professionals and carers so that they can diagnose malnutrition and track the problem.
The FlashDiet project implements these policies on two levels:
- short-medium term, through the creation of an MOOC (online) course directed to health professionals and formal and informal carers, through which they are provided with the basic tools to detect, prevent and correct cases of malnutrition, with special emphasis on the elderly;
- medium-long term through the creation of awareness tools for the general public that can be used for campaigns promoting healthy habits related to adequate nutrition.
The project is financed with European funds from the VII Marco Programme via General Management of Health and Food Safety. The project will be managed by Valencia Polytechnic University as a main partner (the Sabien group and Cuina both participate) and the Luis Alcañiz Foundation. The Valencian Health Ministry also acts as an external collaborator.