This concept of disability moves away from the traditional individual, medical-based perspective characterized by a focus on physical deficits (impairments), to one that encompasses the attitudinal, environmental, and institutional barriers that limit or exclude people with impairments from participation. The term malnutrition covers both undernutrition and overnutrition. The term undernutrition includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age), and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals). The term over nutrition includes

Overweight, obesity and diet-related no communicable diseases

Malnutrition and Disability: A Framework the fields of malnutrition and disability are closely interrelated with a number of points of convergence. Countries with high levels of malnutrition and nutrient deficiency also often report higher rates of disability

Moreover, developmental delay. There are several important areas of overlap and influence: malnutrition can cause or contribute to a variety of different disabilities; disabilities can cause or contribute to malnutrition.

Poor nutrition (malnutrition) usually results from not getting enough to eat and is one of the most common causes of health problems. With its signs of weakness, thinness, failure to grow, and reduced ability to fight off illness, poor nutrition might be considered a disability itself. It affects at least 1 out of every 3 children under 5 years old, mainly those who live in countries whose resources are being drained by the US and Europe

Interactions occur throughout life — during pregnancy, infancy and childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and into old age. This paper will focus mainly on under-nutrition causing disability, and on disability causing or contributing to under-nutrition, although it is important also to recognize that overnutrition (obesity)-associated conditions such as stroke and diabetes are also increasingly important causes of disability, notably in older age groups.

Child Nutrition

Infants and young children who are malnourished as defined by underweight (low weight-for-age) and stunting (low height-for-age) are also more likely to screen positive for disability. Macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies are risk factors for physical, sensory, and cognitive impairment.

HUNGER

Hunger affects as many as 828 million people or 9.9% of the world population, and the proportion of undernourished people has risen in the last five years. Globally, 45 million children are acutely malnourished. Approximately 90% of the malnourished children complete hunger treatment and become cured. Every $1 invested in nutrition can deliver as much as a $16 return to vulnerable communities.

Hunger at a global scale is one of the main problems that a large number of the global population faces presently. Hunger varies with severity. World hunger has many annoying factors and major causes, such as insufficient economic systems, misinformation, and climate change. The main unbearable factor is poverty as it has always led to people going without regular meals because they cannot afford to eat. There are a majority of people in developing countries such as Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia who are in desperate need of food. With the growth of the population, the number of hungry people also increases at an uneven rate.

Root causes of Hunger

Food insecurity, hunger, and undernutrition are related phenomena that occur in people with disabilities in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Food insecurity is the lack of regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for proper growth and development. Hunger is the physical consequence of food insecurity, and results from periods when people experience severe food insecurity. Undernutrition results from the insufficient intake of energy and nutrients to meet an individual’s needs. Both food insecurity and hunger are driven by the social exclusion of people with disabilities, while undernutrition can be driven by food insecurity and hunger, and by the difficulties with eating and/or digesting that are associated with some impairments. All of these phenomena are associated with growth and development problems, worsening of existing health conditions, physical weakness, mental health problems, and reduced quality of life.

Recommendations and Action

• Promote early identification of food insecurity, hunger, and undernutrition among people with disabilities through active screening.
• Increase the resources and programs available to address food insecurity and hunger, and support adequate nutrition and feeding.
• Educate frontline workers, caregivers, and family members on the risks of food insecurity, hunger, and undernutrition among people with disabilities, and provide targeted support for adequate nutrition and feeding skills to assist people with disabilities who need support.
• Explore the possibility of decentralizing screening and care for malnutrition to smaller primary care or community clinics for improved coverage.

“Children and adults with disabilities must also be included in general food security and treatment interventions to ensure they receive the best access to nutrition, as a matter of equality and basic human rights”

HELPING END HUNGER ONCE AND FOR ALL

1. Invest in small-scale-holder farmers.
2. Invest in climatic agriculture.
3. Universal school meals.
4. Address poverty and inequality through social safety net.
5. Eliminate malnutrition in mothers and children.
6. Help rural farmers access the market.
7. Reduce food wastage and loss, etc.