Malabsorption is a condition where the small intestine cannot absorb nutrients from food as it passes through the digestive tract.

• A. Obesity
• B. Anorexia
• C. Cachexia
• D. Malabsorption

Answer: (D)

Malabsorption is the inability of the small intestine to absorb nutrients from food as it moves through the digestive tract. This means nutrients that are eaten aren’t taken into the body properly, leading to deficiencies and often weight loss or fatigue. The description in the stem matches this condition exactly.

Obesity describes having excess body fat from consuming more calories than the body uses; it’s about energy balance, not a failure of nutrient absorption. Anorexia refers to an eating disorder characterized by restricted intake of food, not a problem with absorbing nutrients after you eat. Cachexia is a wasting syndrome from chronic illness, involving muscle and weight loss due to metabolic changes, which is related to illness effects rather than a primary defect in nutrient absorption.