Global Nutrition Inequality Malnutrition Food Security Analy

There is a very large and protracted discrepancy around the world as it relates to food security. For one many nations have different economic structures which can create adverse circumstances related to the ability to grow and obtain food. For example, poorer nations often suffer from malnutrition as the economic structure does not allow its citizens to properly own land and cultivate their own food products. Likewise, wealthier nations may face poor nutrition habits to the wide availability to unhealthy and dangerous food within the economy. For example, the United States and United Kingdom both suffer from large amounts of obesity due in part to a sedentary lifestyle coupled with large amounts of poor nutrition habits. Both of these instances have very long-term impacts on society and its ability to properly function. For one, a large obese population leads to health complications that society must often deal with. These costs can include a large incidence of heart disease, a higher likelihood of stoke, or even premature death. On a lesser note, these complications have a rippling impact on the labor market in the form of higher absenteeism, lack of productivity, and ultimately less product development due to employee health issues. For those facing malnutrition, these same complications can occur resulting in a less productive society, higher deaths, and ultimately adverse economic circumstances. As a result, nutrition, and food resources are critical element to the develop of a country but also to the prosperity of civilization as a whole.

To begin, malnutrition is a very concerning element within poorer nations and countries. Here, nations in both Africa and Latin America can suffer from malnutrition. Also certain Asian countries such as Thailand and Nepal are also suffering from malnutrition. Finally, middle eastern countries such as Somalia and Yemen have the most severe malnutrition in the world. Here, their diet is almost exclusively based on highly accessible but lower nutrition value foods such as rice or processed meat. This malnutrition from a often lead to internal conflict, crime, and in extreme cases war. In Somalia, the country is over ravaged with higher crime as citizens must resort to theft in order to obtain the necessary food and nourishment necessary to preserve their families. This crime then has compounding effect as businesses and capital investment are less likely to occur in society. With a lower propensity for business and capital development lower amounts of food are produced thus exacerbating the problem. This ultimately can manifest is civil unrest which has occurred in many African nations who have suffered from both malnutrition and undernutrition. Here the republic of the congo has seen large economic consequence as a result of malnutrition. This has included rapid deterioration of their currency, civil unrest and war. In certain instances, rival warring nations have specifically targeted food storage facilities, farms, and crops to specifically recruit congo citizens into their own armies. For example, rival nations, knowing that the Congo residents are suffering from malnutrition, will offer food rations in exchange for them services into their own army.

In addition to the economic consequences noted above, malnutrition also harms the individuals ability to obtain the proper nutrients required for survival and a productive existence. The absence of critical vitamins and nutrients can ultimately result in a body that is much more susceptible to disease. These diseases depending on their severity can ultimately harm the individuals ability to be productive in society, thereby impacting their overall income levels. In extreme cases, malnutrition can have very serious consequences for women looking to give birth as well. Here a lack of nutrients often increases mortality rates for women looking to give birth. It can also stunt growth and develop that should occur naturally during the course of an individual’s life. Each of these circumstances can ultimately harm the individuals health, their productivity, and their overall contribution to society.