Hunger is a term which has three meanings (Oxford English Dictionary 1971)
The terminology used to refer to different concepts of hunger can be confusing."Hunger" is usually understood to refer to the discomfort associated with lack of food.FAO defines food deprivation,or "under-nourishment",as the consumption of fewer than about 1,800 kilo calories a day-the minimum that most people require to live a healthy and productive life.Under nutrition goes beyond calories and signifies deficiencies in any or all of the following-energy,protein,or essential vitamins and minerals.Under nutrition is the result of inadequate intake of food-in terms of either quantity-poor utilization of nutrients due to infections or other illness,or a combination of these factors,these inturn are caused by household food insecurity,inadequate maternal health or child care practices,or inadequate access to health services,safe water,and sanitation.
Malnutrition refers more broadly to both under- nutrition(problems of deficiencies) and over-nutrition(problems of unbalanced diets,such as consumption of too many calories in relation to requirement with or without low intake of micro nutrient-rich foods).
- the uneasy or painful sensation caused by want of food; craving appetite. Also the exhausted condition caused by want of food
- the want or scarcity of food in a country
- a strong desire or craving
The terminology used to refer to different concepts of hunger can be confusing."Hunger" is usually understood to refer to the discomfort associated with lack of food.FAO defines food deprivation,or "under-nourishment",as the consumption of fewer than about 1,800 kilo calories a day-the minimum that most people require to live a healthy and productive life.Under nutrition goes beyond calories and signifies deficiencies in any or all of the following-energy,protein,or essential vitamins and minerals.Under nutrition is the result of inadequate intake of food-in terms of either quantity-poor utilization of nutrients due to infections or other illness,or a combination of these factors,these inturn are caused by household food insecurity,inadequate maternal health or child care practices,or inadequate access to health services,safe water,and sanitation.
Malnutrition refers more broadly to both under- nutrition(problems of deficiencies) and over-nutrition(problems of unbalanced diets,such as consumption of too many calories in relation to requirement with or without low intake of micro nutrient-rich foods).
