• Hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiency) is a form of undernutrition where intake and absorption of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals such as zinc, iodine and iron) are too low to sustain good health and development.
• Often, the signs of this form of malnutrition are ‘hidden’, as individuals may ‘look alright’ but suffer extremely negative impacts on health and well‐being.
– Because clinical signs (e.g. night blindness, goiter) appear only when the deficiency has become severe
– The health and development is affected by less obvious ‘invisible’ effects
– That is why micronutrient deficiencies are referred to as ‘hidden hunger’
• Even mild to moderate deficiencies can affect health and socio economic development of the population and the country
• Factors contributing to micronutrient deficiencies:
– Poor diet
– Increased need in certain life stages e.g. pregnancy and lactation
– Diseases, infections and parasites
– 1 out of 3 people in developing countries suffers from hidden hunger, which increases their vulnerability to infection, birth defects, and impaired development.
• They habitually eat large amounts of staple food crops (e.g. maize, wheat, and rice) that are
– high in calories but lack sufficient micronutrients, and
– low amounts of micronutrients rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and animal and fish products
• The effects can be:
– Mental impairment
– Poor health and Low productivity
– Premature death
• The effects on child health and survival are particularly acute, especially within the first 1000 days of life i.e. from conception to the age of 2 resulting in serious physical and cognitive consequences
• Hidden hunger prevents children from achieving the full development of their physical, intellectual and social potential.
– Hence it can be considered as a human rights issue
• Developing countries are moving from minimally processed traditional diet to highly processed, energy dense, micronutrient poor food and drinks, which lead to obesity and poor health
• Due to this ‘nutrition transition’ many developing countries face a phenomenon of ‘triple burden’
– Malnutrition – undernourishment
– Micronutrient deficiencies and
– Obesity
• Even in higher income groups, hidden hunger can co-exist with overweight/obesity
– Therefore an obese child can suffer from hidden hunger
References
• Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine; 23rd ed.
• WHO/UNICEF, Preventing and controlling micronutrient deficiencies in populations affected by an emergency, Joint statement by the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme and the United Nations Children’s Fund available at: http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/micronutrients/WHO_WFP_UNICEFs..., accessed on 7th April 2017
acculturation: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/acculturation
Social security: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/social-security
Operational research: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/operational-research
Gross National Income (GNI) and Purchasing Power Parity (PPP): http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/gross-national-income-gni-and-purchasing-po...
Global Hunger Index (GHI: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/global-hunger-index-ghi
Hidden Hunger: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/hidden-hunger