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Consequences of Childhood Hunger
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There are tremendous costs associated with childhood hunger and food insecurity. These costs often extend beyond
the direct impact to the children and their families. Children who lack adequate food and nutrition are faced with
social, academic and health consequences -- each of which can impact them for a lifetime.
While hunger's detrimental impact to children is more obvious, that cost extends also to the community. Childhood
hunger may result inhigher rates of children failing in school, which may be seen as a poor return on our investment
in education; therefore diminishing workforce productivity.
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Consequences of Hunger and Food Insecurity for our Children
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Health
- Poorer overall health status
- Hopitalized more frequently
- Increased incidence of health problems wuch as stomachaches, earaches, colds and fatigue
Social
- Difficulty interacting with other children
- Increase need for mental health services
- Experience anxiety, negative feelings about self-worth, and hostility towards the outside world
Academic
- Impaired cognitive development and school performance
- Increased school absences and tardiness
- Perform lower on test and overall academic curriculum
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Current USDA data is being analyzed. It is anticipated that these numbers have increased.
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