To fight hidden hunger, WashU researcher Lora Iannotti and her E3 Nutrition Lab investigate maternal and child nutrition by examining the impact of nutrient-rich foods that are locally sourced and affordable.
Globally, 250 million children do not reach their developmental potential and 148.1 million children have stunted growth. Early proper nutrition is crucial because children with nutritional deficiencies won’t be able to catch up.
But malnutrition isn’t always obvious. Even chubby, smiling children can be victims of “hidden hunger,” a vitamin and mineral deficiency caused by a diet of foods without enough micronutrients. Hidden hunger impacts as many as half of the world’s children and isn’t necessarily a poverty problem. Low nutrient, highly processed foods are cheap and convenient and they are everywhere — from poverty-stricken areas of the world to grocery shelves in nations blessed with abundance.