Hunger : What, Where, Causes & Effects - 1

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What is Hunger?

Hunger is the want of, or scarcity of food. The chronically hungry become malnourished, or nutritionally deprived.

The two basic types of malnutrition are protein-energy malnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiency.

Protein Energy Malnutrition is the most basic kind of malnutrition. PEM results from a diet lacking in energy and protein, because of a deficit in all major micro-nutrients. PEM implies a lack of basic calories and protein.

Micro-nutrient deficiency is a less visible form of malnutrition, but still deadly. This form of malnutrition is usually the result of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This type of malnutrition may describe those who have food that is lacking in required nutrients. Deficiencies of Iron, Vitamin A, and Zinc are ranked among the World Health Organization's top leading causes of death through disease in developing counties.

Malnourished bodies are crippled by hunger. Normal bodily functions such as growing, performing labor, learning, or resisting disease, become severely diminished.

Hunger is number one on the list of the world's top 10 health risks. It kills more people every year than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

Currently, 870 million people, or 1/8th of the global population, do not have enough to eat.

Where is Hunger?
  • There are 870 million hungry people across the globe, 98% of which reside in developing countries. Of these 870 million, 850 million are undernourished.
  • Asia and the Pacific have the highest rates of hunger.
The following is a distribution of the population of those effected by hunger
  • 578 million in Asia and the Pacific
  • 239 million in Sub-Saharan Africa
  • 53 million in Latin America and the Caribbean
  • 37 million in the Near East and North Africa
  • 19 million in developed countries
  • 75% of hungry people live in rural areas.
  • One in six children in developing countries is underweight.
  • One in four of the world's children are stunted. In developing countries, this proportion is one in three. 80% of these children are concentrated within 20 countries.
  • 66 million children attend school hungry. One third of these children reside in Africa.