The Long-Term Effects of Childhood Hunger on Health and Success as an Adult
Pre-pandemic, homes with children were 1.5 times more likely to experience food insecurity than those without children. According to 2020 analyses by the USDA and Brookings Institution, 27.5% of American households with children were food insecure following COVID-19— meaning that about 13.9 million children could have experienced childhood hunger in 2020 alone. This is likely due to school closures. Children from food insecure households depend on school meals for daily nutrition; now that they’re forced to stay home, that has been disrupted.
Health Implications of Childhood Hunger
In a previous post, we talked about how poverty-stricken communities like the one served by the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary could benefit from local food production of nutritious food. Clearly, as much as food insecurity and childhood hunger are economic issues, they’re also public health concerns. They should therefore be treated as such.
Food insecurity in children is closely linked to a higher risk of chronic illnesses like asthma, anemia, and even obesity. What’s more, these children are at higher risk for stunted growth and other developmental problems, both physical and psychological — including hyperactivity, anxiety, and aggression.
Pediatric consultant Ingrid Wolfe has also reported that she’s seeing more children hospitalized with seizures caused by vitamin deficiencies as secondary effects of hunger and malnutrition. In fact, emerging studies have found that tracer conditions like eczema, constipation, asthma, and epilepsy are common in young people who have experienced food insecurity and hunger. These issues could be further exacerbated by the frequency, quality, and quantity of food being consumed.
Adults who’ve experienced childhood poverty are also more likely to develop illnesses like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity. These could lead to further complications like kidney and nerve damage, and blindness in severe cases. Several adults who continue to live in food- and financially insecure homes may face barriers to healthcare services, and they may not be able to enjoy great quality of life.
Overcoming the Food Insecurity Crisis
Providing food is just one facet of the solution, as there’s also a need to address the health impacts. Local and state governments have to work hand-in-hand with health professionals to mitigate the problem.
Food insecurity and hunger could lead to a number of chronic health problems, prompting them to seek medical help. Today, this could be difficult to come by not only because of costs and the pandemic, but also because of the severe shortage of health workers. Fortunately, strategies like online learning are becoming more widespread, helping resolve this shortage. Nurses, for one, can take online RN to BSN programs, which require them to complete a public health capstone project. This means that graduates of these programs are sure to be well-versed in finding solutions to public health issues like childhood hunger in communities. As these courses are taught completely online, more people can pursue these degrees— and they’re just as valid as in-person programs too. These health professionals, together with community leaders, can create public health policies and increase awareness about food insecurity and hunger and their effects.
Studies show that food assistance programs like the National School Lunch Program, Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP), and area-specific programs supported by Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, help provide access to healthy and nutritious food. Even community gardens and food banks can aid in addressing childhood hunger. These programs reduce food insecurity and could potentially facilitate further public health efforts.
Community and legislative support are needed to make these programs successful. It will take public action to solve the public health, social, and economic issue of childhood hunger.
Article by Rita Jordyn.
