Dec. 26, 2011 | Everyone has been told to eat all their food, that there are starving people in China or Africa that would be glad to have that food. It turns out that there are starving people in this country as well that would be happy to have the problem of having too much food. According to the United Nations’ World Food Programme, hunger is the world’s number one health risk, killing more people than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined every year. Over one billion people in the world don’t have enough to eat, that’s more than the entire population of the U.S., Canada and the European Union. Every six seconds a child dies from malnutrition and related causes somewhere on this planet. Many of these individuals can be found in poor countries but Asia and the Pacific region is home to nearly two thirds of the world’s hungry. A large portion of these cases can be attributed to war and drought but the majority of them are hungry because they never have enough food.

Dec. 26, 2011 | Everyone feels hungry at times, hunger is the way the body signals that it needs to eat. Once we’re able to eat enough food to satisfy our body’s needs, we stop being hungry. Young people can often feel hungry because their rapidly growing and developing bodies demand extra food. People with malnutrition lack the nutrients necessary for their bodies to grow and stay healthy. Someone can be malnourished for a long or short period of time, and the condition may be mild or severe. And unfortunately, the condition can affect someone’s physical and mental health. People who are suffering from malnutrition are more likely to become ill. In very severe cases, they may even die from its effects. Kids who are chronically malnourished don’t grow as tall as they should, a condition referred to as stunted growth, and are underweight as well. People can also become underweight because they have an illness, and some are underweight because of their genes.

Dec. 26, 2011 | Sadly, some people can become malnourished for reasons that have nothing to do with hunger. People who have plenty to eat may still be malnourished if they don’t eat food that provides the right nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Some people become malnourished because they have a disease or condition that prevents them from digesting or absorbing their food properly. For example, someone with celiac disease has intestinal problems that are triggered by a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, and barley. Celiac disease can interfere with the intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients, which may result in nutritional deficiencies. People with cystic fibrosis have trouble absorbing nutrients because the disease affects the pancreas, an organ that normally produces chemical substances called enzymes that are necessary for digesting food. And if you don’t get enough of one specific nutrient, like iron, that’s another form of nutritional deficiency.

Dec. 26, 2011 | Malnutrition affects people of every age, although infants, children, and adolescents may suffer the most because many nutrients are critical for normal growth and development. Older people may develop malnutrition because aging, illness, and other factors can lead to a poor appetite, so they may not eat enough. In the United States, food manufacturers fortify some foods with vitamins and minerals to prevent certain nutritional deficiencies. For example, the addition of iodine to salt helps prevent some thyroid gland problems, folic acid added to foods can help prevent certain birth defects, and added iron can help prevent iron-deficiency anemia. Alcohol can interfere with nutrient absorption, so alcoholics might not benefit from the vitamins and minerals they consume. Children on diets need to eat balanced meals and a variety of foods to get the right nutrients. Vegetarians, for example, should make sure they get enough protein and vitamins like B12.

Dec. 26, 2011 | Are you worried that your child’s eating habits might be affecting their health? Reza Hakkak, chairman of the UAMS Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, says that even the finickiest eater usually gets adequate calories and nutrients from their diet. However, if you think your child isn’t getting enough of the right nutrients, talk to your pediatrician, who may perform a physical exam and ask about the types and amounts of food your child eats. The doctor may also measure the child’s height, weight, and body mass index to see if they’re within a healthy range for their age. Blood tests can be used to check for abnormalities while X-rays or CT scans may be ordered to look for signs of malnutrition in organs and bones. Treatment for malnutrition depends on its cause. A doctor or dietitian might recommend specific changes in the types and quantities of foods your child eats, and may prescribe dietary supplements, such as vitamins and minerals.