Who Is at Risk for Hunger and Malnutrition?
No matter what country they live in, poor people are most likely to suffer from hunger and malnutrition. In poor countries, natural disasters — such as the severe droughts that African countries often experience — can contribute to malnutrition because they make it hard for people to get the food that they need. In the United States, food manufacturers fortify some common foods with vitamins and minerals to prevent certain nutritional deficiencies. For example, the addition of iodine to salt helps prevent some thyroid gland problems, the folic acid that’s added to foods can help prevent certain birth defects, and added iron can help prevent iron-deficiency anemia. Malnutrition affects people of every age, although infants, children, and adolescents may suffer the most because many nutrients are critical for growth. Older people may develop malnutrition because aging, illness, and other factors can sometimes lead to a poor appetite, so they may not eat enough. Alcohol can interfere with
