HUNGER HAMPERS PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

Even mild or moderate malnutrition in early childhood may hamper psychological development later in life, according to the PhD study of children and juveniles in Ghana of Lily Yaa Appoh, NTNU.

Earlier studies have concluded that only severe malnutrition has a negative effect on psychological development. Among all undernourished children in the world, about 80 per cent are subject to milder forms of malnutrition. In a global context this means that aid programmes must not only focus on fighting severe malnutrition; attention should also be paid to the developmental problems that arise as a consequence of moderate malnutrition.