What Is Hidden Hunger? Causes and Hazards of Hidden Hunger in Children

What Is Hidden Hunger? Causes and Hazards of Hidden Hunger in children

Concept: Hidden hunger refers to the deficiency of micronutrients, a form of malnutrition where cells are starved due to imbalanced nutrition or lack of specific essential nutrients in the human body. Hidden hunger is a severe public health issue in developing countries, primarily caused by a lack of vitamins and micronutrients (e.g., vitamin A, D, calcium, zinc, iron, iodine, etc.) in food. It is a concealed manifestation of malnutrition. Unlike the explicit hunger resulting from difficult living conditions and food shortages, hidden hunger stems from inadequate diets, leading to a deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals essential for the body. As it often lacks apparent symptoms, people rarely realize that they are in a state of hidden hunger.

Causes: Research indicates that cell hidden hunger is caused by relative excess or insufficiency of cellular nutrients, leading to reduced or lost cell physiological activity, heavy metal poisoning in cells, and disruption of the body's self-control systems. Hidden hunger is not necessarily related to socioeconomic status or material scarcity; even in developed countries, anyone not obtaining a balanced diet may experience it. Malnutrition is prevalent in the United States, as evidenced by cases like Barbara Bush, the daughter of former US President George Bush, who suffered from malnutrition despite their family's affluence. Approximately 85% of Americans do not follow the dietary guidelines recommended by the Food and Drug Administration, which include essential vitamins and minerals vital for children's physical and mental development. Certain high-risk groups may have a special deficiency in micronutrients, and their incidence increases during economic recessions when people seek cheap food without considering its quality. The lack of micronutrients can also be influenced by lifestyle changes, such as vitamin D deficiency due to inadequate sunlight exposure. Recent studies published in nutrition journals revealed that more than half of US children lack vitamins D and E, 1/4 lack calcium, magnesium, and vitamin A. This can compromise the immune system, hinder growth and development, lead to intellectual decline, chronic illnesses, and even threaten children's lives.

It is reported that one-third of people in developing countries suffer from hidden hunger, which is also prevalent in underdeveloped countries. Particularly in the third world and resource-limited nations, the diet of common people is monotonous, consisting mainly of cheap but insufficiently nutritious food lacking essential vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 and other lipid nutrients. Some people have insufficient dietary diversity, resulting in a lack of balanced nutrition, such as consuming little fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat. Despite some parents providing their children with abundant food daily, various factors such as food choices, environment, sunlight exposure, and feeding practices can still cause hidden hunger and compromise the child's health.

Hazards: Hidden hunger poses severe risks to children's health. Infants under the age of 2 are most vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies, and during this crucial period of physical, motor, and cognitive development, any growth delay is challenging to overcome later. Approximately half of a child's intellectual development is completed by the age of 4, and brain cell development is accomplished before the age of 6. Nutritional deficiencies in infancy can lead to physical and mental developmental defects later on. Common forms of hidden hunger include iron deficiency leading to an average IQ reduction of 5 to 8 points, iodine deficiency causing a decrease of 10 to 15 IQ points, zinc deficiency leading to picky eating and stunted growth, vitamin A deficiency resulting in night blindness, reduced night vision, and recurrent infections, and vitamin D deficiency leading to rickets.

Hidden hunger in pregnant women can give birth to newborns with birth defects, while hidden hunger in children can cause growth delays. The health issues caused by hidden hunger are irreversible, and malnourished children are more prone to frequent illnesses, adversely affecting their mental development.