Food Security Center

2nd  International CONGRESS  HIDDEN HUNGER 2015

Hidden Hunger, Childhood Development and Long-term Prospects for Society and Economy
March 3-6, 2015, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany

A global meeting of scientists, field workers, members of NGOs and representatives from the government, public, private and civil sector!

The 2nd International Congress Hidden Hunger will focus on causes and consequences of Hidden Hunger during early development as well as on counter-strategies.

Topics will include:

  • Impact of malnutrition on intrauterine development and its consequences on long-term health.
  • Impact of Hidden Hunger on physical and cognitive development.
  • Consequences of Hidden Hunger for future society and economy.
  • Early detection of Hidden Hunger and options to intervene before and during pregnancy,lactation, complementary feeding, weaning and post-weaning period.

Panel discussions with participants from high-and low-income countries will focus on the links and gaps between science and reality in all parts of the world. The conference will also bring together various disciplines to discuss Hidden Hunger under the perspectives of nutrition, gynecology/obstetrics, pediatrics from neonatology to adolescent medicine, social sciences, politics, economics, and agricultural sciences.

Background:

Adequate nutrition is a prerequisite for healthy growth and development, not only with respect to its quantity, but also its quality, which is defined by its micronutrient density. This plays an important role specifically from the time of conception until about the end of the second year of life. This so-called1,000-Day-Window (including the important intrauterine period, the 200-Day-Window) is a highly vulnerable period for physical, motor and cognitive development, particularly susceptible to an inadequate supply of micronutrients. An inadequate supply of micronutrients, with or without adequate energy and protein supply, is defined as Hidden Hunger. The problem is that Hidden Hunger is frequently overlooked because of late manifestation of visible clinical symptoms. Poverty and poor education, in particular the lack of knowledge about adequate food intake during pregnancy, lactation and complementary feeding period, increase the risk of Hidden Hunger. Here with, Hidden Hunger is not only a problem of low-income countries, but of high-income countries, too. In both groups of countries, the number of children living under poverty conditions and suffering from food insecurity is constantly rising. Recent studies revealed a clear effect of the socioeconomic status on the brain and subsequent cognitive development in children. Some of the micronutrients involved in brain development (e.g. iron, copper, zinc, iodine,selenium, vitamin A and D) play an important role in worldwide Hidden Hunger. Deficits of these micronutrients may negatively impact the future of affected children while reducing their physical and mental capacity for escaping poverty.