“Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day; Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him
for a Lifetime.” — Chinese Proverb
With access to services like mock interviews, résumé writing, connecting with jobs, and earning scholarships for college or vocational training, OPF (One Project Foundation) teens are focused on developing workplace and technical skills to help them change their lives and their communities for good.
CAUSES OF MALNUTRITION
Malnutrition, the result of a lack of essential nutrients resulting in poorer health, may be caused by a number of conditions or circumstances. In many developing countries, long-term (chronic) malnutrition is widespread—simply because people do not have enough food to eat.
In more wealthy industrialized nations, malnutrition is usually caused by:
Poor diet
If a person does not eat enough food, or if what they eat does not provide them with the
nutrients they require for good health, they suffer from malnutrition. Poor diet may be caused by
one of several different factors. If the patient develops dysphagia (swallowing difficulties),
because of an illness, or when recovering from an illness, they may not be able to consume
enough of the right nutrients.
Mental health problems
Some patients with mental health conditions, such as depression, may develop eating habits
which lead to malnutrition. Patients with anorexia nervosa or bulimia may develop malnutrition
because they are ingesting too little food.
Mobility problems
People with mobility problems may suffer from malnutrition simply because they either cannot
get out enough to buy foods, or find preparing them too arduous.
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a chronic (long-term) disease. Individuals who suffer from alcoholism can develop
gastritis, or pancreas damage. These problems also seriously undermine the body’s ability to
digest food, absorb certain vitamins, and produce hormones which regulate metabolism. Alcohol
contains calories, reducing the patient’s feeling of hunger, so he/she consequently may not eat
enough proper food to supply the body with essential nutrients
Food shortages
In the poorer developing nations, food shortages are mainly caused by a lack of technology
needed for higher yields found in modern agriculture, such as nitrogen fertilizers, pesticides and
irrigation. Food shortages are a significant cause of malnutrition in many parts of the world.
Food prices and food distribution
It is ironic that approximately 80% of malnourished children live in developing nations that
actually produce food surpluses (Food and Agriculture Organization). Some leading economists
say that famine is closely linked to high food prices and problems with food distribution.