House Backs 'Malnutrition Awareness Week' to Highlight $51 Billion Cost of Poor Senior Nutrition

This resolution is essentially Congress giving a high-five and a spotlight to the problem of malnutrition in the U.S. It doesn’t create a new law or spend a dime, but it officially supports designating the week of September 8–12, 2025, as "Malnutrition Awareness Week." This is Congress saying, "Hey, pay attention, this is a huge deal for public health and our wallets."

The Real Cost of Missing Nutrients

When we talk about malnutrition, we aren't just talking about starvation; we’re talking about not getting enough of the right stuff—protein, calories, or essential nutrients—which is a major issue across all ages. The resolution highlights that this isn't just a humanitarian problem; it’s an economic one. For older adults alone, malnutrition costs the U.S. over $51.3 billion annually. If you find yourself in the hospital, disease-associated malnutrition affects up to half of patients, and treating them can cost triple what it costs to treat a well-nourished patient. This is why the resolution encourages the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to adopt the new Malnutrition Care Score, which is an electronic tool to measure quality of care, aiming to catch this problem early and save everyone money down the line.

Who’s Getting Hit Hardest?

The resolution is clear that this issue doesn’t affect everyone equally. It points out that communities of color, particularly American Indian/Alaska Native households and Pacific Islanders, face much higher risks of food insecurity. For example, Black children are almost three times more likely to live in homes without reliable access to healthy food compared to White children. This lack of early nutrition can cause permanent problems with brain development. By shining a light on these disparities, the resolution aims to galvanize targeted action, recognizing that local groups like food banks and faith-based organizations need to partner directly with healthcare providers to reach these underserved areas.

Supporting the Safety Nets That Work

If you or your aging parents rely on federal programs for meals, this resolution is a big boost. It recognizes the critical role of existing safety nets, specifically those under the Older Americans Act of 1965 (think Meals on Wheels) and child nutrition programs. It explicitly supports increasing funding for these vital programs, citing data that shows older adults who received home-delivered meals for several years were 72% less likely to be at risk for malnutrition. This is a nod to the fact that these programs are effective and essential, not just nice-to-haves. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of Medical Nutrition Therapy within Medicare, acknowledging that professional nutrition counseling needs to be easily accessible for vulnerable populations.