How Hunger Affects Children

Food-insecurity can have the most consequences on children because it could effect their mental and/or physical health, their academics, their success- or lack of success- in the future. According to the most recent statistic from the USDA 15.9 million people under 18 who live in the U.S. suffer from food insecurity.

The most common thing people concern with food insecurity of children is heath problems. Infants who grow up with this are more at risk for delayed development. Children who are food insecure are more likely to requiring hospitalization in the early stages of life, and are more likely to develop chronic diseases in the future. They are also more at risk for oral health problems. Of course these issues should be a huge concern, but they can lead to other concerns that are often overlooked.

Social and mental problems are common side effects of food insecurity in children, but are often overlooked. These children are much more likely to have behavioral issues and act out in class, which effects their learning experience. Once a child is labeled as a "troublemaker" the teacher is much less likely to continue to help them learn, which could cause the student to drop out in the later years of school. This could then hinder the young adult from getting a job because they never revived their G.E.D.. It's basically a never ending circle of bad side effects, all because a child was getting the food they needed when they were younger.

Source: http://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger/child-hunger/child-development.html