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Chapter 5Impacts of Undernutrition

Dr. WJ MuellerAG 201

• Undernutrition is a physical condition• Hunger is a subjective feeling that comes

from not having enough food

Previously we learned that under nutrition causes:• Stunting• Disease susceptibility• Reduces capacity to do work• Reduces intellectual development & ability

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Height to Weight comparisons• Many studies show that there is an ideal height

to weight ratio• People who are underweight or overweight

have a higher risk of death than those in the normal range

• Part of a physical exam is to advise patients on their “healthy weight”

• See Figure 5.1

Waaler Surface (see Fig. 5.1)

Waaler Surface (see Fig. 5.1)

5.1c Tall people - currently undernourishedShort people, undernourished while growing up

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Child Health• Children underdeveloped immune system

• More susceptible to disease (they are already weakened)

• Undernourished & Pregnant• Low birth-weight children• Babies are 40X more likely to die

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Child Health (cont.)• Low birth-wt. children an indicator of:

• Mother malnourished during pregnancy, or• Mother malnourished while growing up• Remember:

• Low calories and protein &/or• Micronutrient deficient

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Child Health (cont.)• Breast feeding results in healthier babies

• Provided with all the nutrients needed• Immunities passed on to the child• Clean food supply

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Breast feeding (cont.)• Infant does not have to compete with the

rest of family for food• Even women who are mild/moderately

undernourished provide sufficient milk

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Breast feeding (cont.)• Problem

• AIDS can be passed to infant• Vitamin A deficiency - increases chances of

child getting AIDS

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Menstruation & Breast-feeding• Body makes estrogen from cholesterol (a type

of fat)• Low weight, less estrogen

• Delayed menarche (Age of first menstrual period)

“Rises in intelligence in Western populations during the 20th century are due largely to improvements in nutrition.”

IV. Effects of undernutrition

A. Mental development impairedB. Educational achievement loweredC. Smaller adults

• who do less physical work• who earn less money

IV. Effects of undernutrition (cont.)

D. They are less productive when working and lose more work time to sickness• so have less money to buy food

Reduced Height-For-AgeReduced Educational AttainmentReduced Potential Work Experience

-All contribute to a 7 to 12% decrease in life-long earnings

• Studies show a relationship between nutrition and height-for-age.

• There is also a relationship between nutrition and educational attainment.

• So, is there a link between schooling completed and height-for-age?

Yes!Perhaps this partially explains the “sex-appeal” of taller people?!

Is this an unfair “height” bias?

World Bank Report:

• An increase in a person’s height by 1% is associated with an increase in that person’s wages by 1.38%.

• Even when only ‘uneducated’ were included in the analysis.• Stunting causes an economic loss of

over $8.7 billion per year worldwide. • Poorly nourished people are more likely

to be unemployed.

So what is the size and scope of the problem?• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPjzfGChGlE