Which term describes the inability to absorb nutrients from food?

The term that describes the inability to absorb nutrients from food is malabsorption. This condition occurs when the digestive system fails to adequately process the nutrients in food, leading to deficiencies regardless of the quantity consumed. Individuals with malabsorption may experience various symptoms such as diarrhea, weight loss, and nutritional deficiencies, which can arise from a range of causes, including damage to the intestinal lining, pancreatic insufficiency, or certain infections.

Lactose intolerance, while related to the inability to digest a specific sugar found in milk, does not encompass the broader inability to absorb various nutrients. Similarly, vegetarian refers to a dietary pattern that excludes meat, and the ADDIE model is an instructional design framework, which is unrelated to nutrition or nutrient absorption. Understanding malabsorption is crucial in nutritional studies as it directly impacts how we assess dietary efficacy and health outcomes in individuals.