Chronic hunger, also known as persistent hunger, is a state of prolonged and recurring food insecurity that affects millions of people worldwide. It is a complex and multifaceted issue that goes beyond the simple notion of being hungry. Chronic hunger is a debilitating condition that erodes the physical and mental well-being of individuals, communities, and societies as a whole.
: An acute, localized crisis where an entire population faces starvation and death. Chronic hunger is often "silent" and widespread, affecting people daily without necessarily reaching the threshold of a declared famine. Metrics and Measurement The primary indicator used by the United Nations to track chronic hunger is the chronic hunger definition
Chronic hunger is the long-term, persistent inability to meet minimum dietary energy requirements, leading to undernourishment, stunted growth, and increased disease susceptibility, typically measured as the prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) over a 12-month period. (Source: FAO, The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World , 2023) Chronic hunger, also known as persistent hunger, is