Malnutrition related to world hunger.

By: Angelica Cheung – the Dietitian

Research question

Is increasing food supply the solution for ending malnutrition related to world hunger?

The Basics Malnutrition is a state of poor or inadequate

nutrition. Everyone who eats deals with malnutrition in

both developing and developed countries at this very moment.

Why is it important? Health and nutrition are essential for

everyday life and activities Although it is quite important, many people

continue to die everyday.

Dietitian’s RoleAs a dietitian, it is my duty in society to: Educate the public and health professionals

about nutrition To promote health and limit disease. Encourage healthy eating lifestyles

No, while increasing the food supply plays a role for fighting malnutrition related to

world hunger, it is notnot the solution.

For two reasons:

My Position on the Issue

First reason: Unequal Distribution

Unequal distribution of food is shown through the difference between the obesity of many in the Western world and starvation in the third world countries.

In 2000, 13% of the total population was hungry everyday, while at the same time obesity health risks were rising.

So, let’s compare the difference of diets in different countries, here is a slide show to show you how people eat.

Slideshow: What gets eaten in a week

Now lets compare the amount of food consumed by different families around the world.

It’s important to take into account: - the size of the family - the amount of food they buy. - the type of food they bought.

http://www.slideshare.net/Roelof/comparison-of-what-is-eaten-in-a-week

How does unequal distribution affect malnutrition? Long term effects are shown through stunted

growth of children. Children are at high risk and many are malnourished and lack many common nutrients we have.

These are permanent conditions that cause their mentality and brain’s ability to never fully develop to it’s maximum capability, and cause a great burden as it is possible for this condition to be passed down generations.

Second reason: Quality of food While children are starving in developing

countries, in the same country many people are becoming overweight.

Places like India and Pakistan have higher obesity rates from before.

For instance, China’s obesity rate has increased 10% in 2006 from the near zeronear zero rate in the 1980s because an increase shipments of cheap meats and palm-oil products.

Why is this happening?

Europe and the US are able, with the current trade policies, to make it cheaper to sell sugary and fatty products than healthy fruits and vegetables.

As sad as it sounds, not only are they keeping developing countries poor, they are making them become fat as well.

How does quality of food affect malnutrition? We all know what obesity can do to someone

especially after watching “Supersize Me”, the effects are serious and can limit working capabilities of an individual.

Developing countries need to have energy to develop and boost their economy to become their own independent nation instead of depending on cheap unhealthy imports and increasing health problems like heart disease and diabetes.

So, yes, these developing countries are getting enough food from the world’s food supply, but they are still malnourished.

An example of a typical meal in the United States. A meal with too many calories and too much fat,

cholesterol, animal protein, salt, and sugar. It’s lacking in whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables.

WFP's Food Basket in EmergenciesIngredients 400g of cereal flour/rice 60g of pulses 25 g of oil (vit. A fortified) 50 g of fortified blended

foods (Corn Soya Blend) 

15g of sugar 15g of iodized salt

Nutritional value Energy 2,100 Kcal Protein 58 g  Fat 43g

This basket has micronutrients such as vitamin A, iron, iodine and zinc that serves to prevent deficiencies.

The main cause:

As you can see, all these global issues are closely related to one another.

It all boils down to the Poverty TrapPoverty Trap. Education, trade, income, gender, and even

the climate affect poverty, which is the main cause of malnutrition.

It is a vicious cycle, as shown in this chart:

The Harsh Reality 10.9 million children under

five die in developing countries each year. Malnutrition and hunger-related diseases cause 60 percent of the deaths;

(Source: The State of the World's Children, UNICEF, 2007)

One out of four children - roughly 146 million - in developing countries are underweight;

(Source: The State of the World's Children, UNICEF, 2007)

The Harsh Reality

Lack of Vitamin A kills a million infants a yearAlthough Vitamin A is not hard for us to obtain.

But wait, not to worry, there’s still hope !

In 1997 alone, the lives of at least 300,000 young children were saved by vitamin A supplementation programs in developing countries.

Organizations dealing with World HungerAction Centre La Faim (Action Against Hunger)ADRAAfricareAmerica's Second HarvestAmerican Red CrossAmeriCares FoundationBread For The WorldCARECatholic Relief ServicesCongressional Hunger CenterEducational Concerns For Hunger OrganizationFeinstein Petition To End HungerFood For The HungryFoodchain - The National Food-Rescue Network

Freedom From HungerFuture HarvestHeifer Project InternationalThe Hunger ProjectInterActionInternational Rescue CommitteeLutheran World ReliefNetAidOxfam AmericaOxfam InternationalPovertyNetSave The Children FederationShare Our StrengthTechnoServeUnited Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)World Emergency ReliefWorld Vision

Dietitian’s Resolution

As a dietitian, it is my responsibility to educate the public about these kinds of issues.

I strongly believe in educating the people is the starting solution for battling world hunger and malnutrition.

Consider the Chinese Proverb, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Dietitian’s Resolution

Teaching people the reason for their problems help them understand and it allows them an opportunity to get involved to create a new future, and the issue can be solved that much faster.

Dietitian’s Resolution For example, supplying equipment and

teaching them how to efficiently use their tools can increase the productivity. In the long run, these individuals are helping create a better future and economy for their country.

Not only do you educate the needy, but you can educate the general public, including you guys, that are able to make a difference in other’s lives.

Student’s Solution

Well, now you’re thinking “what can I do? I’m just a high school student making barely any money to donate.” But don’t fret; there are many ways of getting involved and making a difference in peoples lives.

Not only can you help locally in our community by donating canned foods, or creating shoeboxes for children at our school, you can even buy baked goods from daily sales that raise money for all kinds of non-profitable charities.

Student’s Solution Besides the normal

donation of your hard-earned money, you can also participate in www.freerice.com where every answer you get correct, you send 10 grains of rice. It can help build your vocabulary, geography, French, and even your math skills.

In January 2009, 2,416,239,520 grains of rice were donated!

In support of the world food programme, http://www.wfp.org/1billion, you can donate a couple of dollars.

Experience the Reality Are you not convinced yet? Try placing yourselves in

their shoes. Try surviving on only 1 dollar a meal

or participating in the “30 hour famine”, a program that World Vision hosts when youth go without food while raising money to fund children worldwide.

Students gain understanding on the real experience of hunger.

We, who have so much, must do more to help those in need. And most of all, we must live simply, so that others may simply live. -- Ed Begley, Jr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTzfQLRP4kk