Malnutrition and COVID-19
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Malnutrition occurs when an individual consumes too little, too much or not the right foods. Poverty, poor access to food or clean water, disease, conflict and climate change all place people at increased risk of malnutrition, and specifically undernutrition (eating too little). At present, more than 90% of the world’s hungry live in developing countries where poverty and disease are common, and food is not always readily accessible [FN1].
The global COVID-19 pandemic has only added fuel to the fire.
More COVID-19, More Hunger
The longer this pandemic continues, the greater its impact on people’s wellbeing.
Communities that battle high levels of food insecurity are at particular risk for poverty, hunger and poor disease outcomes during a pandemic due to their already-precarious circumstances. Frighteningly, the US Global Leadership Coalition predicts that – as a result of COVID-19 – famine could strike up to three dozen countries in 2020, including: Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen [FN2].
Moreover, the Global Report on Food Crisis expects global food insecurity to nearly double by the end of 2020. In 2019 there were 135 million people suffering from food insecurity worldwide. Now, as a result of widespread supply chain disruptions, increasing food costs, economic downturn, and decreased access to food & farming as a result of outbreaks and lockdowns, experts expect this number to climb to an estimated 265 million before the end of the year [FN3].
Malnutrition and COVID-19: A Dangerous Combination
When the Ebola virus hit Africa, healthcare workers noted that the devastatingly low survival rate was worsened by patients’ “preceding nutritional status.” They observed that those already suffering from poor nutrition were much more likely to die from the virus.
A similar situation could easily occur with COVID-19 [FN4]. Given that the novel coronavirus is particularly deadly for people with pre-existing medical conditions, this risk is even more prominent. Populations already stricken with disease and ailments worsened by undernourishment, such as HIV, are not only more likely to become infected, but also more likely to die. When combined with inadequate access to healthcare and environmental conditions that favor the rapid spread of the virus, COVID-19 could spell disaster for many already at-risk communities [FN4].
The pandemic has also disrupted food supply chains, which disproportionally harms already food insecure areas. Poor access to food remains one of the leading causes of malnutrition worldwide (even in the best of times), and this pandemic has led to a dramatic increase in two additional risk factors: poverty and disease. Millions of people have lost jobs/wages, and food costs have increased in many areas as a result of export restrictions, short supply, and panic-buying behaviors. The combination of less disposable income, higher food costs and significant supply chain disruptions could make food inaccessible for hundreds of millions of people – even if they do manage to stay healthy.
In conclusion: the current outbreak of COVID-19 serves as a unique and worrisome threat to individuals and communities with already at-risk nutritional statuses, but also threatens long-term progress in the global fight against hunger. While malnourished patients may experience an increased risk for infection and/or poor outcomes directly related to the disease, and the pandemic’s social and economic impacts could also increase the number of people suffering from hunger and other preventable diseases [FN2].
Want to help? Click here to read about organizations working to combat global food insecurity and reduce this burden.
Resources
1. https://actionagainsthunger.ca/what-is-acute-malnutrition/underlying-causes-of-malnutrition/
2. https://www.usglc.org/coronavirus/global-hunger/
3. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30228-X/fulltext
4. https://www.wfpusa.org/articles/covid-19-and-global-food-security/