Question

Define hunger, malnutrition, and undernourishment. What is the extent of these problems in the world? What is their root cause?

Short answer

Hunger is a painful physical sensation from not enough food intake; malnutrition is a deficiency or excess of essential nutrients, even overweight can be malnourished if they lack the necessary nutrients; while undernourishment is an inability to acquire enough food. Worldwide, these problems affect a significant portion of the global population, with regions like Africa and Asia being the most affected. The root causes are diverse, including factors like poverty, conflict, poor agricultural infrastructure, and over-exploitation of the environment.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Terms

Hunger refers to an uncomfortable or painful physical sensation caused by insufficient consumption of dietary energy. It becomes chronic when the person does not consume a sufficient amount of calories (dietary energy) on a regular basis to lead a normal, active and healthy life.\n\nMalnutrition is a pathological state resulting from a relative or absolute deficiency or excess of one or more essential nutrients; it encompasses undernutrition and overnutrition. Even overweight and obese people can be malnourished if they consume a diet does not provide the necessary nutrients.\n\nUndernourishment is a state, lasting for at least one year, of inability to acquire enough food, defined as a level of food intake insufficient to meet dietary energy requirements.

Extent of the Problems

Access specific data sources for the most current statistics on global hunger, malnutrition, and undernourishment. These sources may include organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Summarize the main findings from these sources, identifying the regions and populations most affected by these issues.

Analysis of Root Causes

The root causes for hunger, malnutrition, and undernourishment are diverse and interconnected. Some of the main reasons include poverty, conflict, poor agricultural infrastructure, and over-exploitation of the environment. In this step, elaborate on these causes and provide examples if possible, linking back to the statistics and trends identified in the previous step.