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Essay / World food shortage
World hunger is defined as the shortage of food on a global level and is often divided into two types of malnutrition. The first being PEM or protein-energy malnutrition which is a lack of calories and proteins. The EMP is often brought up when talking about world hunger because it is so common in developing countries. Since protein is necessary for crucial body functions such as building muscles and providing necessary amino acids, it is essential for body development. Without adequate intake, malnutrition contributes to stunted growth, often leading to two types of acute malnutrition called wasting and nutritional edema. Wasting is described by rapid weight loss and is a cause of death and nutritional edema is a form of swelling due to insufficient protein intake. Another main type of stunting is stunting, which is a slow cumulative process due to insufficient intake of various nutrients. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay Stunting often affects children visually, as they appear much younger than their actual age. An organization called the United Nations Children's Fund estimates that more than 161 million children worldwide are stunted. The second type of malnutrition is called micronutrient deficiency. Although it is not protein-energy malnutrition, it is very significant and affects millions of children. Micronutrients such as vitamin A are essential for the immune system's defense against disease. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to blindness and slowed growth. It is estimated that up to 250 million preschool children are vitamin A deficient and 500,000 children go blind each year. Unfortunately, more than half of them die within a year of losing their sight. Currently, the majority of people suffering from malnutrition are in developing regions, with more than 700 million people suffering from undernourishment in 2016. Fortunately, this number has decreased by 40 percent compared to the world However, in developing countries, up to 20 percent of the population suffers from chronic malnutrition, with Asia and sub-Saharan regions of Africa home to the majority of the world's malnourished population. Global food consumption is very different between developing and developed countries. In low-income countries, people spend up to 80% of their income on food and developed countries like America spend less than 10% on food. Americans alone waste more than 100 trillion calories on food every day. Globally, cereals make up more than 45% of the human diet and this figure is expected to increase by 2030, with global demand in general increasing by up to 35%. Today, agriculture provides employment for almost 40% of the world's population. In developing countries where technology is not as rich, agriculture depends on seasonal rainfall. A drought can therefore create a massive famine which can devastate the population of a country..