Starvation

Characteristics of Starvation

Starvation is a severe reduction in vitamin, nutrient, and energy intake, and is the most extreme form of malnutrition. Malnutrition is a general term for the medical condition of a person or animal caused by an unbalanced diet—either too little or too much food, or a diet missing one or more important nutrients.

Most commonly, malnourished people or animals either do not have enough calories in their diet or are eating a diet that lacks protein, vitamins, or trace minerals. Medical problems arising from malnutrition are commonly referred to as deficiency diseases. Scurvy is a well-known and now-rare form of malnutrition, in which the victim lacks vitamin C.

Common forms of malnutrition include protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and micronutrient malnutrition. PEM refers to inadequate availability or absorption of energy and proteins in the body. Micronutrient malnutrition refers to inadequate availability of some essential nutrients, such as vitamins and trace elements, that are required by the body in small quantities. Micronutrient deficiencies lead to a variety of diseases and impair normal functioning of the body. Deficiency in micronutrients such as vitamin A reduces the capacity of the body to resist diseases. Deficiency in iron, iodine, and vitamin A is widely prevalent and represents a major public health challenge.

In humans, prolonged starvation (in excess of one to two months) causes permanent organ damage and may result in death. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, more than 25,000 people living in Asia, Africa, and Latin America die of starvation every day, and more than 800 million people are chronically undernourished. On average, every five seconds a child dies from starvation.

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