Undernutrition & Malnutrition
The number of people who are undernourished had been declining for decades, but has been increasing again since 1996. It has increased because of a decrease in government assistance for agricultural development in much of the developing world over the last 15 years, as well as an increase in fuel prices and the global economic downturn.
|
Why are people undernourished?
The primary reason for undernutrition and malnutrition is poverty: the lack of resources that allow one access to food. Globally, starvation is the result of unequal food distribution rather than absolute food scarcity.
The primary reason for undernutrition and malnutrition is poverty: the lack of resources that allow one access to food. Globally, starvation is the result of unequal food distribution rather than absolute food scarcity.
From the photos above, it is obvious that farming varies between more and less affluent areas. Currently, the world’s farmers grow enough grain to feed at least 8 billion people, which is technically more than enough for the world’s population of 6.8 billion. The problem is that this surplus grain is not readily available to the starving people of the world. People cannot afford to buy the food they need, which is a problem that cannot be solved just by producing more grain.
|
Terms to Know:
food security: A condition in which people have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs for an active and healthy life.
food insecurity: A condition in which people do not have adequate access to food. famine: The condition in which food insecurity is so extreme that large numbers of deaths occur in a given area over a relatively short period. overnutrition: Ingestion of too many calories and improper foods. undernutrition: The condition in which not enough calories are ingested to maintain health. Overnutrition is a type of malnutrition that puts people at risk for a variety of diseases, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. |