What are the effects of hunger on children?
Hunger impairs our children’s health in significant and long-lasting ways: • Impedes growth and development • More illness, including stomach- and head aches, colds, ear infections and fatigue • Poorer mental health • More hospitalizations • Greater susceptibility to obesity and its harmful health consequences Hunger predisposes our children to behavioral difficulties, including: • More aggressive behavior • Higher levels of hyperactivity, anxiety and/or passivity • Difficulty getting along with other children • Greater need for mental health services Hunger impedes our children’s ability to learn and perform academically. Hungry children are likely to: • Have impaired cognitive functioning and diminished capacity to learn • Achieve lower test scores and overall school performance • Repeat a grade • Experience school absences, tardiness and school suspensions Source:”Household Food Security in the United States, 2007; U.S.D.A.
