Free Online Dictionary |Wikipedia English The Free
Encyclopedia||Download this dictionary| Emaciation ( or ) is
defined as extreme weight loss and thinness due to a loss of
subcutaneous fat (the fatty, or adipose tissue beneath the skin)
and muscle throughout the body. It affects human beings and
animals, is often described as "wasting", and is caused by
severe malnourishment and starvation. Emaciation is a
predominant symptom of malnourishment, a basic component of
poverty and famine that also occurs with diseases that interfere
with the digestive system and appetite, other systems, and
eating disorders. These include nutrient deficiency disorders,
diseases with prolonged fever and infection, malignant diseases,
parasitic infections that can result from contamination,
anorexia nervosa and other conditions. The malnourishment
associated with emaciation has been referred to as "", while
infection by parasites has been described as "". Treatment of
emaciation includes gradual renourishment with a slow increase