Tag: Empowerment

Over 60% of chronically hungry people are women and girls, a stark indicator that food insecurity is profoundly impacted by equality, or more accurately, the lack thereof. Genuine progress towards global food security is fundamentally tied to achieving and sustaining social, economic, and gender equality. A system that functions unequally by design will produce unequal outcomes, creating a vicious cycle of poverty and hunger.

According to the World Health Organization, a balanced and healthy diet is essential for preventing noncommunicable diseases and malnutrition. Understanding why it is important to support individuals to make choices about food and drink goes far beyond just nutritional intake; it is a fundamental aspect of person-centered care and respecting an individual's autonomy.

Research from the National Institutes of Health has found a strong link between positive psychological constructs, such as optimism, and better diet quality. This provides a strong foundation for the strength-based approach in nutrition, a method that builds on an individual's existing capabilities rather than their perceived deficits.

As of 2024, it is estimated that more than 600 million people worldwide will be facing hunger by 2030, a shocking statistic given global food production. This immense challenge is one that can be addressed by understanding how to drastically reduce hunger through collective global action and individual choices.