City health officials are taking the problem of malnutrition seriously, as food and fuel prices soar and more families lose homes and jobs. In tough economic times, even people who are working can have trouble putting food on the table. The need is reflected in a dire statistic: One in eight families who bring children to the University of Maryland Medical Center‘s emergency room are undernourished, according to a recent study. Young children are listless and distracted, while teens are bloated from filling up on fats and starches. Both are at risk for serious health problems that can affect later growth and development.