Health > Malnutrition > Number of Undernourished > Million: Countries Compared
Author: chris.lockyer781
Malnutrition is the condition caused by inadequate intake of energy and nutrients necessary for health. Primary malnutrition is due to insufficient intake of food, while secondary malnutrition is caused by disease. Aside from protein-energy malnutrition, deficiencies in nutrients including iron, Vitamin A, iodine and zinc are the most important forms of malnutrition. As of 2012, It is estimated that 870 million people are malnourished. This represents 12% of the world population.
Causes of Malnutrition
Poverty is the underlying cause of malnutrition, and almost all malnourished people are citizens of developing countries. Almost 25% of the population in Sub Saharan Africa is malnourished. Asia has the highest number of malnourished people, reaching up to 500 million. According to World Bank reports, malnutrition and poverty reinforce each other. The poor nutritional status of a developing country decreases its annual GDP by up to 3%.
Another leading cause of malnutrition is illness, especially infectious diseases like diarrhea, malaria, measles and AIDS. Water borne diseases are of particular importance in countries with poor access to sanitation. Other underlying causes of hunger identified in developing countries include harmful economic systems which cause a huge disparity in distribution of resources, conflict and violence which increase the number of refugees, and climate change.
Malnutrition is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Impaired immunity arising from malnutrition is the number one cause of death in both adults and children. The most susceptible to the ill effects of malnutrition are women and young children. Up to 50% of deaths in children below 5 years of age is related to malnutrition. In developing countries, the most common cause of low birth weight is poor maternal nutrition.
Citations:
Food and Agriculture Organization. 2012. "The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012"http://www.fao.org/docrep/016/i3027e/i3027e00.htm
Hunger Notes: 2013 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics. http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm
Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2000, 78: 1207–1221.
Repositioning Nutrition as Central to Development. A Strategy for Large-Scale Action. World Bank report. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/NUTRITION/Resources/281846-1131636806329/NutritionStrategy.pdf
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Malnutrition is the condition caused by inadequate intake of energy and nutrients necessary for health. Primary malnutrition is due to insufficient intake of food, while secondary malnutrition is caused by disease. Aside from protein-energy malnutrition, deficiencies in nutrients including iron, Vitamin A, iodine and zinc are the most important forms of malnutrition. As of 2012, It is estimated that 870 million people are malnourished. This represents 12% of the world population.
Causes of Malnutrition
Poverty is the underlying cause of malnutrition, and almost all malnourished people are citizens of developing countries. Almost 25% of the population in Sub Saharan Africa is malnourished. Asia has the highest number of malnourished people, reaching up to 500 million. According to World Bank reports, malnutrition and poverty reinforce each other. The poor nutritional status of a developing country decreases its annual GDP by up to 3%.
Another leading cause of malnutrition is illness, especially infectious diseases like diarrhea, malaria, measles and AIDS. Water borne diseases are of particular importance in countries with poor access to sanitation. Other underlying causes of hunger identified in developing countries include harmful economic systems which cause a huge disparity in distribution of resources, conflict and violence which increase the number of refugees, and climate change.
Malnutrition is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Impaired immunity arising from malnutrition is the number one cause of death in both adults and children. The most susceptible to the ill effects of malnutrition are women and young children. Up to 50% of deaths in children below 5 years of age is related to malnutrition. In developing countries, the most common cause of low birth weight is poor maternal nutrition.
Citations:
Food and Agriculture Organization. 2012. "The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012"http://www.fao.org/docrep/016/i3027e/i3027e00.htm
Hunger Notes: 2013 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics. http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm
Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2000, 78: 1207–1221.
Repositioning Nutrition as Central to Development. A Strategy for Large-Scale Action. World Bank report. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/NUTRITION/Resources/281846-1131636806329/NutritionStrategy.pdf
Posted on 09 Apr 2014
chris.lockyer781
396 Stat enthusiast
