Running head: CHILD HUNGER IN AMERICA

Child Hunger in America

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CHILD HUNGER IN AMERICA

A) Write a rationale for the presentation in which you do the following:

Hunger is a discomfort that emerges as a result of lack of food accompanied by the desire to
eat. In the United States, hunger does not take the extreme form as it is experienced in some third
world countries. Instances of severe food deprivation are rare in the United States. Clinical
symptoms of food deprivation are sometimes used to determine if children in a country are faced
by hunger. Such symptoms include low weight in relation to body height, low height for age and
wasting. Such symptoms characterize children who are starved although in the USA they are rare
and when they occur they are limited. The impact of hunger as seen in the United States is
usually difficult to be measured. The impacts include; tiredness, irritability, frequent headaches,
frequent colds and infections. The clinical objective of measuring hunger is very difficult hence
alternative methods have been deployed in both the private and public sector. The alternative
measures of measuring hunger are using a persons self-report of his/her psychological or
subjective experience of hunger.
Researchers may not agree on any particular definition of hunger. But for the purpose of
policy making and measurement hunger is defined as taking in inadequate amount of food
resulting from lack of money and resources. It can also be defined as the mental or physical
condition resulting from not eating due to poor economic or community resources. From the two
definitions, hunger is defined as resource restricted and in most cases related to poverty and it is
distinct from the premealtime hunger witnessed across the economic spectrum. Researchers in
the past have associated hunger with food insecurity. Food insecurity is a much broader aspect of
hunger. Families may experience food insecurity that may force them to borrow money for food
purchases. The presentation is useful for policy makers as they will come up with appropriate
policies that will be implemented. The presentation would be suited to policy makers so that they

CHILD HUNGER IN AMERICA

include effective measures in the policies that will be developed to help children in the United
States against hunger. Information relating to child hunger in the United States is very essential
as it can be used in decision making. This will ensure coming up with effective policies that will
ensure American children receive the best care through effective planning (Haddad, Kennedy, &
Sullivan, 1994).
Significance of Child Hunger information in America
Information can be used by policy makers in making effective decisions regarding to
health. Children who have experienced hunger in the past often get sick and their recovery rate is
slow with regularly being hospitalized. In most cases they are prone to experience colds,
headaches and stomachaches. The children are more prone to obesity and its harmful health
implications which are both evidenced among children and adults. In academics hungry children
tend to perform poorly and cannot grasp concepts in class fast. Lack of sufficient nutrients will
also impair their ability to concentrate and attain good grades in school. When it comes to their
emotional and well-being, children who lack sufficient food have high chances of having
behavioral, emotional and academic difficulties and in most cases they are aggressive and
anxious. They also have high chances of being expelled from school and difficulties getting
along with other children.
B) Create a plan (outline) for a presentation on your chosen topic that includes the
following:
1. Introduction
Americans have a moral responsibility of ensuring that they eradicate child hunger in the
country. That will translate to a country where no child goes hungry irrespective of their social,
economic or political background. Well-fed children will be able to perform better in school and

CHILD HUNGER IN AMERICA

their relations with their colleagues are always perfect unlike children who have experienced
hunger in the past who have very poor relations with others. Their learning ability is also
impaired as they tend to have low concentration span. Children who face lack of adequate food
may also not be able to grow to attain their full potential and hence they may not attain their full
physical potential. Hungry children will experience developmental problems that will hinder
them from attaining their full physical, academic and emotional development. The government
should put in place measures to ensure that all children in the United States get access to food.
Child hunger is an academic challenge to teachers as they have to deal with children who have
problem in class. At workplace, workers who experienced hunger in their childhood may not be
physically fit to carry out their duties as they not have fully developed emotionally, physically,
socially and mentally to perform tasks that may be assigned to them. The children experiencing
hunger may cause health care costs to increase both to their families or their employers (Olson,
1999).
2. Adequate support for each point
Child hungers possess an educational challenge to the school and the community at large.
Children who have experienced hunger in the past will always have their concentration greatly
reduced and they may not be able to cope with others in school. That will be as a result of direct
mental retardation that emerges from the hunger they experienced. Education will also be
affected in that the children may be expelled from school as a result of not being able to cope
with others and they may at times be violent.
Workers who experienced hunger in their early lives will be a problem to an organization.
That will be attributed to fact that they may not have had the chance to grow properly and attain

CHILD HUNGER IN AMERICA

their full potential and physical stature they are supposed to have gained. They may also have not
full developed emotionally and mentally. At workplace they may also find it difficult to socialize
with their colleagues. Such workers are also frequently hospitalized increasing the health costs
of the organization.
In general, people who experienced hunger in their early lives pose a burden of high health
costs both to the government and their employees. In the short term they will have high health
costs as they are frequently hospitalized while in the long term they will chronic under nutrition
increasing health care costs (Weinreb et al, 2002)
3. Appropriate visual element

Child hunger hurts and it is the responsibility of all Americans to ensure that child hunger is
eradicated.
Conclusion
Food security is a matter of matter of national importance and all people in the United
States have a role to ensure all children have access to sufficient food. Through enhanced food

CHILD HUNGER IN AMERICA

security health costs will be reduced. The workforce in the nation will also be effective hence
more people will be productive. Companies will have reduced costs of treatment.

CHILD HUNGER IN AMERICA

7
References

Haddad, L., Kennedy, E., & Sullivan, J. (1994). Choice of indicators for food security and
nutrition monitoring. Food Policy, 19(3), 329-343.
Olson, C. M. (1999). Nutrition and health outcomes associated with food insecurity and hunger.
The Journal of Nutrition, 129(2), 521S-524S.
Weinreb, L., Wehler, C., Perloff, J., Scott, R., Hosmer, D., Sagor, L., & Gundersen, C. (2002).
Hunger: its impact on childrens health and mental health. Pediatrics, 110(4), e41-e41.