Abstract
Although malnutrition is acknowledged as being a major problem worldwide, particularly in hospitals, care homes and communities, where diseases and disabilities are common, confusion exists in relation to what constitutes malnutrition andhow to manage it. This 824-page book attempts to clarify the role and the effectiveness of nutritional support (oral, enteral and parenteral) in clinical practice, both in general and in specific groups of patients, by establishing a multi-levelled evidence base. Information aimed at helping health care professionals make decisions is presented. The definition, prevalence, causes and consequences of disease-related malnutrition are discussed. A new conceptual framework for detecting and treating disease-related malnutrition is presented for application to specific patient groups and health care settings. The book includes an extensive clinical database on the prevalence of malnutrition, a large collection of data on outcomes of nutritional support, with extensive systematic reviews and meta-analyses of oral nutritional supplements and enteral tube feeding, plus consideration of dietary counselling and parenteral nutrition.