World Hunger

The Condition

Hunger is defined as physical craving for food. Figuratively, it is used to mean need for something other than food.

The term hungry pertains to having an appetite or a state where one is ready to eat a meal. If a person does not consume food for a period of time, the hunger pangs become more severe and it becomes very painful. Extended period of hunger will force a person to eat anything such as grass and soil to feed their hunger. Doing this is actually counterproductive or produces a negative effect since energy is required to digest the substance. Eating substances without nutrients could lead to malnutrition such as Kwashiorkor and marasmus. Rabbit starvation is a predicament where one’s diet caused acute malnutrition even if the victim eats quantities of food daily. The prolonged malnourishment may lead to death.

Sometimes hunger is a medical condition where an organism uses its protein tissue such as muscles to produce energy. This occurs after all sugars and fats are consumed.

Fasting just like hunger is a state where people do not eat for a period of time. But unlike hunger fasting is voluntary. A hunger strike is often used to protest peacefully.

Hunger and its Social Implications

It is a basic human need to eat at least three times a day. But we are all aware of the fact that some people are not able to do so. Some can manage to eat twice or once daily. But the less fortunate ones could not eat a decent meal at all. Everyday is a huge struggle for them to put food on the table. Millions of people are affected with this widespread phenomenon worldwide. World hunger is simply too prevalent to ignore. Most of the victims of hunger unfortunately are the ones who need food the most. These marginal members of the society affected by hunger involve children, aged person, sick and the poor.