Researchers checked the nutrition health of over 5,000 hospital patients across three Australian hospitals between 2016 and 2024. They found that more than one in five patients weren’t eating enough, while nearly four in ten were eating too much. Surprisingly, some patients had both problems at the same time. The study showed that doctors were good at helping patients who weren’t eating enough, but rarely helped patients who were eating too much. These findings suggest hospitals need better ways to spot nutrition problems and help more patients improve their eating habits while they’re in the hospital.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How many hospital patients have nutrition problems (not eating enough, eating too much, or both) and whether doctors are helping them fix these problems.
  • Who participated: 5,186 patients staying in three Australian hospitals for multiple days. The survey was done every year from 2016 to 2024 (skipping 2020-2021 because of COVID-19).
  • Key finding: About 21% of patients weren’t eating enough, 40% were eating too much, and 5% had both problems. However, doctors only helped 4% of patients eating too much, while they helped about 70% of patients not eating enough.
  • What it means for you: If you’re in a hospital, your nutrition status matters for your recovery. This research suggests hospitals should do a better job checking everyone’s eating habits and offering help to all patients who need it, not just those eating too little.

The Research Details

This was a large survey conducted every year at three hospital locations in Australia. Researchers visited hospital patients’ rooms and checked their weight, height, and medical records to understand their nutrition status. They used standard tools that doctors use worldwide to measure whether someone is eating enough or too much. The same process was repeated each year, allowing researchers to see if nutrition problems in hospitals stayed the same or changed over time.

The researchers looked at patients who stayed in the hospital for more than one day. They measured each patient’s Body Mass Index (a number that shows if someone’s weight is healthy for their height) and used a special screening tool called the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool to identify patients at risk. They also checked hospital records to see if patients had been diagnosed with nutrition problems and whether a dietitian (a nutrition expert) had helped them.

This research approach is important because it gives a real picture of what’s actually happening in hospitals. Instead of just looking at medical records, researchers went to see patients in person and measured them directly. This helps hospitals understand how big the nutrition problem really is and whether their current systems for helping patients are working well enough.

This study is reliable because it included a very large number of patients (over 5,000) across multiple years and multiple hospitals. The researchers used the same measurement methods each year, which makes the results consistent and trustworthy. However, the study only looked at Australian hospitals, so the results might be slightly different in other countries. The study is descriptive, meaning it shows what’s happening but doesn’t prove that one thing causes another.

What the Results Show

The survey found that nutrition problems are very common in hospitals. About 21 out of every 100 patients weren’t eating enough (undernourished), while about 40 out of every 100 were eating too much (overnourished). Interestingly, about 5 out of every 100 patients had both problems at the same time—they weren’t getting the right nutrients even though they were eating too many calories.

More than one-third of all patients (37%) were identified as being at risk of not eating enough, which means they could develop serious nutrition problems if they don’t get help. This is important because good nutrition helps people heal faster in the hospital and reduces complications.

The study also looked at whether patients were getting help from dietitians. Patients who weren’t eating enough had a good chance of getting help (about 70%), and patients with both problems were also likely to get help (about 71%). However, patients eating too much almost never got help from a dietitian—only about 4% received any nutrition advice.

The research showed that hospitals are much better at spotting and treating patients who aren’t eating enough compared to those eating too much. This suggests that hospitals may not have good systems for identifying patients with too much weight or poor eating habits. The findings also suggest that some patients with both under- and over-nutrition problems might be overlooked if hospitals only focus on one type of nutrition problem.

Previous research has shown that nutrition problems in hospitals are common, but this study provides updated information from 2016 to 2024. It confirms what other studies have found—that many hospital patients have nutrition issues—but it also highlights a new concern: patients with both types of problems at the same time, which hasn’t received as much attention in past research.

This study only looked at hospitals in Australia, so the results might be different in other countries with different healthcare systems. The study shows what nutrition problems exist but doesn’t explain why they happen or prove that fixing nutrition problems will definitely help patients recover better. The researchers couldn’t study patients in 2020-2021 because of COVID-19, so there’s a gap in the data. Additionally, the study only looked at patients staying multiple days in the hospital, so it doesn’t include people in emergency rooms or those staying just one night.

The Bottom Line

If you’re going to be in a hospital, ask your doctor or nurse about your nutrition status and whether you should see a dietitian. Hospitals should improve their systems for checking all patients’ nutrition and offering help to everyone who needs it, not just those not eating enough. Healthcare workers should pay more attention to patients eating too much or with mixed nutrition problems. Confidence level: Moderate to High—this is based on a large study with consistent methods over many years.

Hospital patients and their families should care about this research because it shows that nutrition help isn’t always available when needed. Healthcare workers, hospital administrators, and dietitians should use these findings to improve their nutrition screening and support programs. People planning surgery or long hospital stays should ask about nutrition support ahead of time.

Nutrition problems don’t develop overnight, and fixing them takes time too. If you’re in a hospital and start working with a dietitian, you might notice small improvements in energy and appetite within days, but major improvements in healing and strength typically take weeks to months after you leave the hospital.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If you’re preparing for or recovering from a hospital stay, track your daily food intake and weight weekly. Note how much protein, fruits, and vegetables you eat each day, and record any changes in energy levels or healing progress.
  • Before a hospital stay, work with a dietitian to understand your nutrition needs. During your hospital stay, ask staff about nutrition support and request a dietitian visit. After discharge, continue tracking meals and follow any nutrition recommendations given to you.
  • Set weekly reminders to weigh yourself and review your eating patterns. If you notice weight changes or feel weak, contact your doctor. Keep a food diary for at least 2-4 weeks after hospital discharge to ensure you’re meeting nutrition goals and recovering well.

This research describes nutrition problems found in hospitals but doesn’t provide medical advice for individual patients. If you’re hospitalized or planning surgery, talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian about your specific nutrition needs. This study shows general patterns and shouldn’t be used to diagnose or treat any individual’s nutrition problems. Always follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for your personal nutrition care.