When I first saw the different public health topics, I was very interested in the topic of malnutrition. I always see malnutrition as something that only occurred in developing countries, however, even though the percentage is small, malnutrition also occurs in the United States. Less than 1 % of children suffer from chronic malnutrition in the United States, and over 10 % of that number is found in rural areas. Even the article mentions that in the highest risk group (those living in shelters or homeless) only accounts for less than 10 % of this group in the United States. I found this very surprising considering all the struggles many of these children in shelters or homeless face daily.
Also through this research, I found many programs that strive to help those countries that are often impacted by childhood malnutrition. One of those programs is to help Nepal, which is know to have stubbornly high numbers in childhood malnutrition. The Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction gave a 2 million dollar grant to help programs that are striving the meet the needs of malnourished children. The group’s goal is to cut the number of malnourished children by 25 %.
After researching different programs designed to eliminate malnutrition, all I could think about were many of my students who get terribly upset when they miss breakfast or choose not to eat their lunch. It is so obvious, just in that short period of time, how the lack of nutrition impacts their cognitive ability and physical ability. When children (and adults) are hunger they naturally do not work as hard because the energy to do so is missing. I can only imagine the incredible impact lack of nutrition has on children who not only miss one meal, but multiple.
I think the number of children that go hungry in America might be higher than we know. I know I teach in a high poverty area and am dealing with a child who is living out of a camper. We don't know if he has running water or electricity. We do know he doesn't eat at home. He comes to school begging for lunch and is so excited when someone shares a snack with him. He is desperate and it is depressing.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the amount of people that go hungry in America is outrageous,and it bothers me how much food we throw away at my local early head start center. Malnutrition affects so many americans,do you think its a way we could help them?
ReplyDeleteGood job with your blog, keep up the good work.
Receiving nutritious meals promotes school readiness in all children. How can a child learn if he/she is hungry, has little energy or malnourished? This is why I am an advocate of child care programs that provide comprehensive services to children and families, such as Head Start. Many families living in poverty, as well as, families who do not technically "qualify" as living in poverty as established by the Federal Poverty Guidelines (annually), suffer from food insecurity. Great information and such a needed topic!
ReplyDeleteI also agree that when kiddos miss meals the short term affects are extremely noticeable! I currently teach preschool and at this stage they are either starving hungry or not hungry at all and I always worry about the lack of nutrition that is present in many homes and the affects it has on children, especially young children.
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