By Madison Headen
When we think of malnutrition, the image that comes to mind is the starvation and hunger that is prevalent among the developing countries of society. What most people do not know is that malnutrition is the result of either undernutrition or overnutrition. For the first time in history, the amount of overweight people outnumbers those that are underweight. A concept, known as nutrition transition, has changed the world by allowing for overnutrition and undernutrition to exist in the same countries, communities, and even households. This concept is collectively known as the double burden of disease.
The nutrition transition, while beneficial for developing countries, is why we see the double burden of disease so often. The rise of the middle class in developing countries allows greater access to foods. In addition, these people will be engaging in less labor-intensive work, and they will have more leisure time. As a result, we can see a rise in obesity in developing nations that exists alongside the omnipresent hunger.
Undernutrition is predominantly seen in places where poverty is prevalent because the impoverished population cannot afford to have adequate amounts of quality foods. Undernutrition is dangerous in that it has many health effects. Among those effects includes high infant mortality, stunting, and a higher susceptibility to disease.
Undernutrition is commonly found in a cyclic pattern. When children are impoverished and cannot afford adequate food, they are normally less fit in adulthood, if they even survive their childhood. Women who are undernourished are not able to gain as much weight during pregnancy, resulting in underweight babies. These babies that are born underweight and less fit than normal babies then grow up in conditions similar to their parents, furthering their malnutrition. Children that grow up without adequate food are more susceptible to diseases and stunting. Therefore, if they do survive their childhood, they will fall into the same conditions as their parents and continue the cycle of undernutrition.
More recently, overnutrition has become a global issue. While this was only an issue affecting the wealthier countries of the world, the nutrition transition has allowed for this burden to fall on the low and middle-income nations as well. Developing countries now simultaneously fight the impact of undernutrition and overnutrition. The nations that have fought against hunger are now also plagued with heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and other diseases associated with obesity. The double burden of disease is commonly found within the same countries, communities, and strangely enough, even the same households as a result of cultural practices and influences.
The double burden of disease doubles the number of illnesses that exist in the nation. Overall, developed nations need to confront this issue because developing countries do not have the resources to end this burden. Some solutions that could help to end malnutrition include nutrition education, supplementation, subsidies for farming, and eliminating poverty overtime.
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