1. Impacts of Undernutrition Text extracted from The World Food Problem Leathers & Foster, 2004 http://www.lastfirst.net/images/product/R004548.jpg

2. Delayed Menarche Undernourished girls produce less estrogen –Associated with body fat Lower estrogen delays the age of menstruation: –USA: 12.8 yrs old –Rural India: 14.4 yrs old –Rwanda: 17 yrs old

3. Breast Feeding as Birth Control (Lactational Amenorrhea) Prolactin stimulates breast milk –Also suppresses ovulation Producing breast milk also reduces fat storage –Thus reduces estrogen –Thus impedes ovulation Very effective for 6-12 months after birth Most important form of birth control in developing world

4. Low Birth Weight Babies Born to undernourished mothers –PEM –Iron deficiency Much more likely to die in first year Early nutrition in girl’s life can affect baby

5. Breast Feeding Improves baby’s health Contains all nutrients Fights infection –Antibodies in milk Guaranteed food supply –No competition with other family members Sanitary food supply 1.5 million children in developing world die because they are not breast fed

6. AIDS and Breast Feeding Breast milk can pass AIDS virus More likely if mother has vitamin A deficiency –32% if deficiency –7% if normal Bottle alternative may be less safe Mother and child with AIDS

7. Impact of Undernutrition on Infant Mortality Probability of dying by age 5 –15.5% in least developed nations –0.85% in industrialized nations Diarrhea leading killer –Pneumonia –Influenza –Bronchitis –Whooping cough –Measles Malnutrition contributes to ½ of these deaths in developing world Infant Mortality

8. Impact of Undernutrition on Intellectual Development Protein supplements given during pregnancy –Improved cognitive function in children through age 6-7 yrs. IQ reduced by child’s deficiency in –Iron –Iodine –Protein

9. Impact of Undernutrition on Education Missed school days Special education needs Low test scores Repeated grades Attention deficit disorder –Decreased attention span –Impaired memory –Disobedience –Distractibility –Reduced progress

10. Impact of Undernutrition on Labor Productivity Work capacity drops severely –Calorie deficiency –Iron deficiency More likely unemployed Taller individuals –Better nourished –More productive –Stronger

11. Malnutrition in the Developing World 30% of the developing world suffer from one or more forms of malnutrition

12. Number of Undernourished Dropping 918 million –1970s 906 million –1980s 800 million –2000 Biggest drop in Asia –25% drop Least drop sub- Saharan Africa –5% drop Kosovo refugees

13. Seasonality of Undernutrition Grain prices lowest right after harvest –Nutrition good 2,000 Calories/day in Mozambique –Then supplies dwindle Grain prices highest before harvest –Hungry season 1,430 Calories/day in Mozambique –Foraging for wild foods increases

14. Criteria for worst-off countries Calories/person –Kinshasa, Burundi, Eritrea, Somalia, Afghanistan, Tajikistan Child nutrition –North Korea, Afghanistan, Burundi, Eritrea, Somalia Mortality rates for children –Sierra Leone, Angola, Afghanistan Low Birth weight babies –Bangladesh, Haiti, Yemen, India Rural Bangladesh Women

15. What Kinds of People are Undernourished? Rural poor –65% of people are rural in low income countries Children –Especially weaning Pregnant, Lactating women Girls –Food diverted to brothers Uneducated families Large families Elderly