Malnutrition seems to be a common occurrence among developing countries. Although poverty is overall the primary cause, not surprisingly the US is now experiencing a type of malnutrition caused by diets that contain unhealthy amounts or are high in excess of fats, refined carbohydrates, and even sugars. However, most Malnutrition in children in the US (non-severe, PEM) today is caused by a lack of healthy foods, or by a lack of foods and or vitamins.
Malnutrition, the New Normal?
Areas within the United States that have low employment, high crime, are hurricane ravaged, or have a depressed economy, are now seeing the effects of malnutrition in their children and community, some for the first time. Sadly, a good deal of children in these areas only eat food that has low nutritional or key vitamin value or only when they go to school.
In addition, obesity is considered a type of malnutrition. One of the causes can be a lack of essential food nutrients or an unbalanced food diet which is more common now because of higher food costs which makes some healthier foods more expensive.
Most importantly, Malnutrition in the United States is more common than reported.
US and Malnutrition Statistics:
Did You Know?
- More than 17 million American households were food insecure.
- Nearly 1 in 4 households with children suffered from food hardship.
- 18% of households in the United States suffered from food hardship.
- Feed The Children provides food and essential to (approximately) 2.5 million Americans yearly.
- Feed The Children has 20,000 plus volunteers.
Source: Feed the Children Website
Children in the US who have Malnutrition, exhibit just some of the following symptoms:
- Night Blindness
- Anemia
- Learning Disabilities
- Mental Retardation
Malnutrition could be affecting your neighbors. As Americans now typically spend 1/10th of their income on food, malnutrition among both children and adults in the United States has literally become an epidemic.