Mixed
Malnutrition management must prioritize the maintenance and restoration of muscle mass rather than generalized weight gain, as low muscle mass is a critical determinant of adverse health outcomes including mortality, readmission, and functional decline.
Stop focusing only on the scale. If you are sick, older, or recovering, your body loses muscle, which is dangerous. Ask your doctor or dietitian to check your muscle mass (using tools like BIA or DXA) and not just your weight. Eat enough protein (1.0-1.5g/kg/day) and consider high-protein supplements, especially those with HMB, combined with resistance exercise to rebuild muscle and reduce hospital readmission risk.
Ideally, identifying and treating malnutrition should have a focus on maintaining or minimizing the loss of muscle mass and function rather than simply focusing on body weight itself.
Why this rating
Based on a consensus of major nutrition societies (GLIM) and cited systematic reviews/meta-analyses, though the paper itself is an opinion/review.
Source
The Underappreciated Role of Low Muscle Mass in the Management of Malnutrition
Nicolaas E.P. Deutz et al. · Journal of the American Medical Directors Association · 2018
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