Canadian Malnutrition Task Force

The Canadian Malnutrition Task Force (CMTF) is an ad hoc committee of the Canadian Nutrition Society whose mandate is to prevent, detect and treat malnutrition. A three year cohort study conducted by CMTF revealed that 45% of Canadian adults are malnourished upon admission to hospital. The study also identified barriers within hospitals that prevent patients from eating food to ensure they will be discharged from hospital in a nourished state. Malnourished patients stay 2 - 3 days longer and as a result they cost the health care system more compared to well-nourished patients. The CMTF advocates for mandatory nutrition risk screening, which is the first step in the Integrated Nutrition Pathway for Acute Care (INPAC). The CMTF mantra is "Eating Matters" and we need to make it matter in Canadian hospitals.