In the U.S., hidden hunger still leaves scars on body and mind : Shots
NPR••nation
Key Points:
- Hunger in the U.S. often goes unnoticed and manifests in subtle ways such as behavioral issues in children and parental anxiety over rationing food, rather than the stereotypical image of famine seen in low-income countries.
- In 2023, 13% of American households were food insecure, but the Trump administration canceled the annual survey, limiting current public data on the issue.
- Experts emphasize that even short periods of hunger can negatively affect brain development and behavior in children, contradicting myths that children are resilient to early trauma like malnutrition.
- Long-term effects of childhood hunger include physical health problems such as osteoporosis and psychological impacts like persistent anxiety about food scarcity, as illustrated by personal stories from affected individuals.
- Despite evidence of
