Malnutrition

So many people can barely afford food anymore because of the rise in costs. This is what causes world hunger. Not only can people not afford food, but often times they have no place to live.

There are many charities, such as 40 Oaks, that try to help people suffering with poverty, but it’s a worldwide issue that will probably never go away.

Malnutrition is one of the biggest risks of poverty. It’s a condition that results from lack of food and an unbalanced diet. It causes many other problems in your body too, such as nutrition disorders and tuberculosis. Approximately 62 million people die of malnutrition every year.

A study in Bangladesh in 2009 reported that rates of malnutrition were higher in female children than male children. In 2000, rates of child malnutrition were much higher in low income countries (36 percent) compared to middle income countries (12 percent) and the United States (1 percent).

These results show that this is a problem that doesn’t directly affect most of us. But the fact that it affects so many people around the world means that we should be more aware and helpful seeing as how we are more privileged.

Anna Tibaijuka once said, “By improving the lives of slum dwellers, we are also combating malnutrition and diseases, many of which are directly linked to overcrowding and to the lack of clean water and improved sanitation. By the same token, slum improvement helps improve environmental sustainability and addresses gender inequality in the most efficient manner.”