NUDI 30113

Public Health Nutrition

Hidden Hunger
Mrs. Bernardo, Iris Rowena

BSND3-1N
Sycayco, Ethan Jan B.
 My comment, reactions, and insights about Hidden hunger show in the analysis a new
global estimate for hidden hunger by about 2 billion people globally suffering from micronutrient
deficiencies. According to The Lancet Global Health that preschool-aged children and women of
reproductive age globally have at least one micronutrient deficiency. Micronutrient deficiencies
are most prevalent in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, even in high-income countries. The
recommended actions are to improve access to nutrient-rich diets to support the population's
health and light the rising global food insecurity and climate change. Hidden Hunger is the lack
of vitamins and minerals, and the quality of food does not meet their nutrient requirements, such
as vitamins and minerals that are needed for growth and development. Families mostly women,
and children with low income have trouble not getting enough micronutrient-rich foods, vitamins
and minerals in their body limits their growth, development, and healthy working capacity.
Micronutrient deficiencies compromise immune systems, hinder child growth and development,
and affect human potential worldwide. Coordinated actions are needed for micronutrient
interventions and to transform food systems to scale up and cost-effective investments. New
and innovative actions would benefit and ensure access to micronutrient-rich foods, particularly
in food-insecure populations. Strengthen micronutrient data collection to ensure reliable data
across all population subgroups to guide programs and monitor and track progress.

References:

Stevens, G. A., Beal, T., Mbuya, M. N. N., Luo, H., Neufeld, L. M., Addo, O. Y., Adu-Afarwuah,
S., Alayón, S., Bhutta, Z., Brown, K. H., Jefferds, M. E., Engle-Stone, R., Fawzi, W., Hess, S. Y.,
Johnston, R., Katz, J., Krasevec, J., McDonald, C. M., Mei, Z., & Osendarp, S. (2022).
Micronutrient deficiencies among preschool-aged children and women of reproductive age
worldwide: a pooled analysis of individual-level data from population-representative
surveys. The Lancet Global Health, 10(11), e1590–e1599. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-
109X(22)00367-9
 New Global Estimates for Hidden Hunger ACTION NEEDED TO ADDRESS ALARMING
MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCY LEVELS WORLDWIDE. (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2022,
from https://www.gainhealth.org/sites/default/files/publications/documents/new-global-estimates-
for-hidden-hunger.pdf