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Chapter 17 - Food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition
Book chapter

Chapter 17 - Food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition

Katherine Alaimo, Mariana Chilton and Sonya J. Jones
Present Knowledge in Nutrition, pp 311-326
2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818460-8.00017-4

Abstract

Food insecurity Food security Food sovereignty Human rights Hunger Malnutrition Neoliberalism Poverty Rights of nature Undernutrition
Food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms are responsible for more ill health than any other cause. Maternal and child undernutrition contributes to more than 10% of the world's disease burden. Undernutrition contributes up to 45% of preventable deaths among children under 5years of age, mainly in low- and middle-income countries. The health consequences of overweight and obesity contribute to an estimated 4 million deaths (7.1% of all deaths) and 120 million healthy years of life lost. The global prevalence of severe food insecurity was 10.2% in 2017, affecting 770 million people. Food insecurity and malnutrition are caused by unequal and unjust distribution of nourishing food due to deficiencies in social, economic, political, and ecological systems. Organizations, politicians, and community leaders are demanding and promising transformative approaches to deep poverty and the climate and nature crises that cause malnutrition and hunger. Policies that protect basic human rights and rights of nature can create well-nourished resilient societies.

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