Chapter 5 Impacts of Undernutrition Dr. WJ Mueller AG 201

1. Chapter 5 Impacts of Undernutrition Dr. WJ Mueller AG 201 Free Template from www.brainybetty.com

2. Undernutrition is a physical condition • Hunger is a subjective feeling that comes from not having enough food

3. Previously we learnedthat under nutrition causes: • Stunting • Disease susceptibility • Reduces capacity to do work • Reduces intellectual development & ability

4. 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

5. Waaler Surface (see Fig. 5.1)

6. Waaler Surface (see Fig. 5.1) 5.1c Tall people - currently undernourished Short people, undernourished while growing up

7. 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

8. 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

9. Child Health (cont.) • Breast feeding results in healthier babies • Provided with all the nutrients needed • Immunities passed on to the child • Clean food supply

10. 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

11. Breast feeding (cont.) • Problem • AIDS can be passed to infant • Vitamin A deficiency - increases chances of child getting AIDS

13. Menstruation & Breast-feeding • Body makes estrogen from cholesterol (a type of fat) • Low weight, less estrogen • Delayed menarche (Age of first menstrual period)

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

15. IV. Effects of undernutrition • A. Mental development impaired • B. Educational achievement lowered • C. Smaller adults • who do less physical work • who earn less money

16. 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

17. Reduced Height-For-Age • Reduced Educational Attainment • Reduced Potential Work Experience • All contribute to a 7 to 12% decrease • in life-long earnings

18. 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?!

19. 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. Is this an unfair “height” bias?

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