Child Hunger in America
By
Western Governors University
Abstract
The United States faces many social problems. One of these problems is child hunger. It has sociological origins and challenges for government and citizens alike.
Social Problem The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports 16.7 million children under the age of eighteen live in a household where consistent access to adequate amounts of nutritious food for a healthy life is not obtainable. This is called food insecurity. Although this is harmful to any individual, it has major implications for children. Nutrition establishes
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Obesity as a result of high calorie non nutritious foods is being linked to an increase in Type 2 diabetes among children. Hunger impairs concentration which impacts educational achievement. Poorer educations results in decreased workforce productivity as an adult; it can be a barrier to self sufficiency and employment, thereby perpetuating the cycle.
Sociological Theory Structural Functionalism is the understanding of society that presumes social systems are assembled to fill social needs. (Wikibooks, 2012). Social inequality refers to individuals in a society that do not have equal social status. (Wikibooks, 2012). Social inequality is the current situation. Factors contributing to poverty and hunger are the social and economic challenges faced by the family. The number one cause noted for the increase is unemployment of the parent. Closely following this is access to affordable housing. Other influences are low wages, gap between rich and poor, earning disparity between men and women, barriers to affordable child care and health insurance. Inequality is a motivator for people to change. The organizations and institutions are interdependent, when one makes a change the others accommodate by changing as well. The WIC, SNAP and National School Lunch Program have adjusted their entrance criteria to meet the greater needs of the majority of the people.
A. How many of you are worried about where your next meal will come from? Are you unsure of how you’re going to purchase next week’s groceries or what you will be feeding your children for dinner tonight? This probably isn’t something most of you think about from day to day. When you are hungry, you eat. It’s easy for you to grab a sandwich, order a pizza, or run through the drive thru when you are on the go. However, there are many families, not just in other countries, but here in the United States as well, that are going hungry every day. According to kidshealth.org, a child dies from malnutrition and related causes every 6 seconds.
Nowadays, hunger is not only linked with food it is also related to the family income level, also, it represents the feeling of starving to the time that it is disturbing or even frustrating. Oxford dictionary define hunger as “A feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food, coupled with the desire to eat.” Indeed, most people would admit that when someone is starving, they are not performing to their absolute potential. This sense of resentment and anger when one is craving for food is prompted by a decline in the body’s blood- glucose level. In this case if the level declines, the human brain will recognize it as a threatening situation. The leading cause of hunger among
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Food insecurity is a major problem for children because they are still developing both physically and mentally. Bellisle (2004) discusses how a lack of a nutritious diet can have severe effects on a child’s cognitive ability as well as their behavior. He goes on further to explain that even in children with an adequate diet, there were still differences in their capacities compared to children were given the correct amount of nutrition. Food assistance programs are important for communities with families that cannot supply their children with enough food, as well as children who may be getting enough food, but not the correct nutrition. Skalicky, Meyers, Adams, Yang, Cook, and Frank (2006) add that children who experience food insecurity throughout their lives are more likely to have iron deficiency-anima than children who are food secure. They continue by explaining that it is even more difficult for children to obtain these resources themselves; they rely on their parents for support. If their parents are unable to provide the proper nutrition for them, food assistance
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Nutrition is the elements in food and drinks that are essential for the body to function, grow, and sustain a healthy life. Proper nutrition is particularly important to children and the lasting effects of inadequate or poor nutrition can be detrimental to a child’s long-term health and well-being. Nutrition plays a crucial role in the physical and mental development of children and can have a striking impact as they progress through their adolescent and adult lives. This issue paper will examine the correlation between nutrition in children and the impact it has on Health Economics. More specifically, this paper will focus on the impact of food insecurities in the United States, effects on future productivity in the workforce, effective nutritional policy, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and how this particular policy contributes to the long-run health benefit for children of low-income communities.
It goes without saying that around the United States and also around the world, there are hunger problems. One crucial area is with school age children. Nutritious foods in the right amounts are essential for everyone but particularly for children. In early childhood, adequate nutrition can ensure healthy growth, proper organ formation and function, a strong immune system, and neurological and cognitive development.(1) Nutrition also has increasingly been recognized as a basic pillar for social and economic development. Well-nourished children can learn new skills, think critically and contribute to society.(1)