Food and Health

Question 1

What is undernutrition?

Answer 1

Undernutrition is insufficient calorie intake to maintain a healthy life. It is most widespread among poorest LEDCs.

Question 2

What is malnutrition?

Answer 2

Malnutrition is caused by a lack of proper nutrition. This is usually due to the lack of expensive foods such as meat, fruit and vegetables for a balanced diet.

Question 3

What is obesity measured by?

Answer 3

BMI: body mass index

30 and over is obese

Question 4

What causes obesity?

Answer 4

Increased consumption of fats and sugars.

Decreased physical activity

Question 5

What is famine?

Answer 5

Widespread food shortage that leads to a rise in mortality. They are complex and might only affect one social group. For example people with the least purchasing power have a greater food insecurity.

Question 6

What are human causes of famine?

Answer 6

Increase of HIV/AIDS= more vulnerable to hunger

Increase of population faster than crop production e.g. refugees

Question 7

What are two physical causes of famine?

Answer 7

Drought/crop failures such as maize production.

A rapid rise in the price of food and animals

Question 8

What are two ways to prevent famine in the long term?

Answer 8

Help people develop a more productive food system to prevent another famine- increasing fertiliser, using new technology

Appropriate technology such as irrigation water

Improvements to systems to make them more efficient

Easing international trade and cancelling national debts

Question 9

What are short term solutions to famine?

Answer 9

Distributing food (NGOs such as Oxfam)

Cost paid by donors

However may lead to aid dependency

Question 10

Why do people living in MEDCs live longer?

Answer 10

Cleaner environment= better sanitation, sewage and water systems

Good healthcare facilities (inoculation)

Health education and campaigns