The Malnutrition Pathway Community Interest Company (C.I.C.) has released the 4th edition of Managing Adult Malnutrition in the Community, providing updated, evidence‑based guidance for healthcare professionals supporting adults with disease‑related malnutrition in community settings.
While the overall structure of the guidance remains consistent with the 2021 edition, the updated version incorporates new evidence, clearer organisation and strengthened messaging in key areas.
Key updates to the professional guidance document include:
- Updated and reviewed evidence, incorporating the latest studies and systematic reviews
- Stronger emphasis on high‑quality protein intake per meal for older adults and those with sarcopenia, alongside physical activity
- An enhanced section on the use of oral nutritional support – content remains largely unchanged but is now presented under clearer, more intuitive headings (e.g. selecting the most appropriate product, supporting adherence, ongoing review, and specialist dietetic input) to enhance usability
- A refined pathway to guide timely and appropriate use of oral nutritional supplements, covering the needs of those recovering from acute illness or recent hospital discharge and managing individuals with long-term, chronic conditions
- Greater emphasis on person‑centred, holistic care, including the role of dietary counselling, self‑screening and self‑management.
In addition, the three accompanying patient leaflets have been updated to reflect current best practice:
- Green leaflet (low malnutrition risk): new content on healthy eating for older adults and plant‑based Eatwell resources
- Yellow leaflet (medium malnutrition risk): enhanced focus on high‑protein foods and space for personalised action planning
- Red leaflet (high malnutrition risk): updated guidance on updated information on optimising prescribed oral nutritional supplements (ONS).
The updated guidance has been shaped by a multi‑professional consensus panel representing the wider community healthcare team, including general practice, nursing, dietetics, pharmacy and physiotherapy. This breadth of expertise ensures the recommendations reflect real‑world practice and the multidisciplinary nature of nutritional care.
Dr Anne Holdoway, Chair of the document panel and Clinical Director at the Malnutrition Pathway C.I.C., said: “This edition of Managing Adult Malnutrition in the Community builds on the strong foundations of previous versions while reflecting the latest evidence and clinical experience. By refining the pathway, reorganising key sections and updating the patient materials, we aim to make nutritional care clearer, more person‑centred and easier to integrate into everyday practice. Our thanks to the multi‑professional consensus panel who assisted us in the update, and to Nutricia, who provided an unrestricted educational grant to enable us to complete this update and continue to offer our materials to healthcare professionals free of charge.”
All resources are available free to download at: www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk