This House resolution supports designating September 14 through September 18, 2026, as "Malnutrition Awareness Week." It defines malnutrition as not getting enough protein, calories, or nutrients and says malnutrition is a significant public health problem that can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. The text cites links between poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition and notes that some communities—such as American Indian and Alaska Native households, some Asian American and Pacific Islander groups, and Black children—experience higher rates of food insecurity. The resolution cites findings that disease-associated malnutrition affects 30 to 50 percent of hospital patients and gives a figure for annual costs tied to disease-associated malnutrition in older adults. It also notes that deaths from malnutrition have more than doubled since 2018, especially among people 85 and older.
The resolution expresses support for an awareness week and formally recognizes the role of nutrition professionals, health care providers, school food service workers, home-delivered meal providers, social workers, caregivers, community organizations, and Federal nutrition programs in preventing and addressing malnutrition. It highlights the importance of access to evidence-based nutrition care, research on nutrition and the microbiome, and a clinical quality measure called the Malnutrition Care Score for adults. The resolution was introduced in the House and referred to several committees for consideration.
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Supporters say raising awareness can help prevent, identify, and treat malnutrition across the lifespan. They point to links between food insecurity and malnutrition, higher risk in certain racial and age groups, the high share of hospital patients affected by disease-associated malnutrition, the rising deaths among the oldest adults, and the role of Federal nutrition programs and community-based services in improving nutrition and health outcomes. The resolution also recognizes the importance of research and of nutrition professionals in addressing malnutrition.
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