How Hunger Hurts Kids
Prenatal and Neonatal
Children born to mothers who had inadequate nutritional intake during pregnancy are more likely to...
- be premature & have low birth weight
- die in infancy
- suffer from growth retardation & cognitive impairment
- be physiologically predisposed to be more efficient at storing calories (in response to hunger in the womb), which has been linked to the development of obesity, adult onset diabetes, and risk of cardiac disease later in life
Time for School
Kids in food-insecure households have a higher propensity for...
- grade repetition, absenteeism, tardiness, suspension, and lower math & reading scores Behavioral and Social Challenges
- rushing food lines and hoarding and/or stealing food to take home
- hyper-activity, aggression, anxiety, irritability, difficulty getting along with peers, low-self esteem, and depression
- special counseling and educational services
- suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide among teenagers
At the Doctor's
Hunger and food insecurity affect all aspects of health, and hungry kids are more likely to
- be hospitalized
- be susceptible to illness and infections such as sore throats, cold, and stomach aches
- be anemic
- have tooth decay
- be overweight or obese and develop diseases associated with obesity, e.g. diabetes and hypertension
- obesity increases the risk of suicide, academic underachievement, and social stigmatization
Job Readiness
The impact of food insecurity doesn’t end once children turn 18. It also impacts their likelihood of going to college and finding employment, which simply perpetuates the cycle of poverty and hunger. Hunger drains the economy.
- Workers who experienced hunger in childhood create a workforce pool that is less competitive, has lower levels of technical and educational skills, and has seriously constrained human capital.