Hidden hunger is not about providing enough calories, it is about a lack of micronutrients, which has life-long consequences for the children who are mostly affected. This begins with physical and cognitive developmental disorders and continues with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases and the occurrence of obesity. The book compiles the contributions of the Fourth Congress on Hidden Hunger 2019 as original articles. The focus of the congress was the problem of malnutrition and overweight, which can coexist and is termed a “double burden”. Part of the book deals with the causes of malnutrition and the challenge of achieving an agricultural system that is more focused on food quality. Another part discusses the causes and intervention approaches to tackling childhood obesity, especially in connection with malnutrition. All in all, this publication is a summary of important work by highly renowned authors on the topic of the congress: “Hidden Hunger and the Transformation of Food Systems: How to Combat the Double Burden of Malnutrition?” Like its two predecessors, the book fills an important gap by summarizing the essential aspects for science, applied research, and politics at a high level.
Children’s growth is a common concern to all health care providers treating neonates, infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents. Defining the best nutrition for healthy and active children as well as for those who suffer from acute or chronic disease is relevant to the children, their care givers, and to health care providers. For this publication, an international group of experts in nutrition, metabolism, gastroenterology, endocrinology, and auxology have selected some of the most important manuscripts published between July 2018 and June 2019. Each paper is supplemented with editorial comments aiming to highlight the lessons that can be learnt. This book provides a significant contribution to the knowledge base and will help all subspecialties of health care providers dealing with the pediatric age group to get updated on some of the key issues in the interaction between nutrition and growth.
Optimal nutrition is difficult to achieve. Insufficient energy and nutrient intake leads to inadequate growth, whereas too much can result in increased risk of non-communicable diseases (mainly obesity) and may adversely affect children with chronic diseases. Our understanding of the pathophysiology of inappropriate growth and the pathways involved in optimal and catch-up growth is constantly evolving. There is also new data emerging on the role of genes and the interaction between nutrition and epigenetic changes involved in growth, as well as on the interplay between nutrition and growth factors and hormones in health and disease states. In this latest yearbook, noted specialists present leading studies related to various aspects of nutrition and growth published between July 2017 and June 2018. Each study is summarized, with comments, providing additional and helpful views of interpretation. The book will provide useful and valuable information for health care providers, physicians, nurses, dieticians, scientists, and anyone else interested in nutrition.
Hidden hunger has long been an overlooked problem. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies have to be remedied and the availability of calories needs to be increased. As a matter of fact, the number of people who do not have access to a balanced diet has multiplied in rich and poor countries, with lasting consequences for health and well-being. Hidden hunger not only affects childhood growth and cognitive development, but also reduces productivity and well-being later in life, thus keeping the affected population trapped in a circle of poverty and malnutrition. This book illustrates the global fight against hunger by national governments and international organizations. Presented at the Third Hidden Hunger Conference held at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany, it presents a range of strategies being implemented in various regions of the world to improve nutrition quality and combat this international crisis.