The Driving Factors of Childhood Malnutrition in the United States

The Driving Factors of Childhood Malnutrition in the United States

    Presenter(s)

    Jaelyn Sarah Nycole Manley, Morgan Taylor

    Comments

    Presentation: 3:00-4:15, Kennedy Union Ballroom

    Description

    When asked about a country with alarming levels of childhood malnutrition, would the United States of America come to mind? According to Hart Research Associates and Chesapeake Beach Consulting (2014), less than half of the American adult population considers hunger in the U.S. to be a large issue. However, when considering that in the year 2022, an estimated 13 million children in the United States struggled with hunger, it is shocking that the public is not more aware of such an issue (Child Hunger in America, 2022). The growing issue of childhood malnutrition in America is complex due to the various factors which contribute to it. Shining light on this issue, Feeding America identifies three primary drivers of malnutrition: diminished family income, the availability to afford proper housing, and the influences of racism and discrimination (Child Hunger in America, 2022).Furthermore, the CDC states that American students receive less than 8 hours of nutritional education yearly (Healthy Eating Learning Opportunities and Nutrition Education 2023). Khattak and Ghazanfar (2017) explain that a mother’s lack of nutrition education leads to poor feeding choices for their children.In this poster, we will discuss family income, access to proper housing, the effects of racism and discrimination, and lack of nutritional education as the driving factors of childhood malnutrition in the United States.

    Publication Date

    4-17-2024

    Project Designation

    Capstone Project

    Primary Advisor

    Kathleen C. Scheltens

    Primary Advisor's Department

    Premedical Programs

    Keywords

    Stander Symposium, College of Arts and Sciences

    Institutional Learning Goals

    Community; Traditions; Scholarship

    The Driving Factors of Childhood Malnutrition in the United States

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