Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 21, 2026
06:45
A Caenorhabditis elegans Nutritional-status Based Copper Aversion Assay
Published on: July 26, 2017
Famine: a perspective for the nutrition community
1Graduate School of Nutrition, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155.
Nutrition Reviews
|May 1, 1991
Summary
Famine relief efforts are insufficient despite global grain abundance. Addressing famine requires greater public policy attention, similar to past efforts for malnutrition.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Development Studies
- Political Science
Background:
- Famine is a recurring global crisis characterized by starvation, disease, and high mortality.
- Despite awareness of famine's links to poverty, climate, and conflict, public understanding remains limited.
- Current collective responses to famine are recognized as inadequate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the deficiencies in the global response to famine.
- To advocate for increased attention to famine as an explicit public policy concern.
- To crystallize the complex issues surrounding famine and its management.
Main Methods:
- This paper synthesizes existing knowledge and expert opinion on famine.
- It analyzes the socio-political and economic determinants of famine.
- It draws parallels with the successful integration of malnutrition into public policy.
Main Results:
- Famine is often perceived superficially, with limited understanding of its root causes and consequences.
- The global response to famine is demonstrably insufficient to mitigate its impact.
- There is a critical need to elevate famine onto the international development agenda.
Conclusions:
- Famine requires a more robust and coordinated global response.
- Integrating famine as a key policy issue is essential for effective intervention.
- Sustained advocacy and research are crucial to combatting famine effectively.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Overview of Protein Metabolism
Proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which are stored for later use, proteins are not. Instead, amino acids are either used to produce ATP through oxidation or contribute to the creation of new proteins for the growth and repair of the body. Any surplus amino acids from the diet are converted into glucose or triglycerides rather than excreted.
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
01:24Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation
During the initial hours of fasting, the body uses up its glycogen stores as an energy source. Once these glycogen reserves are depleted, the body begins breaking down stored triglycerides and structural proteins. During this stage, glycerol becomes a key substrate for gluconeogenesis, while free fatty acids undergo beta-oxidation to provide energy for tissues, such as skeletal muscle. In the fasting state, the body spares protein breakdown as much as possible to conserve muscle and structural...
01:30Regulation of Food Intake
Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
01:27Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
Parenteral Nutrition (PN) delivers essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. It is commonly used for individuals with severe digestive disorders or conditions that prevent normal nutrient absorption.
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
01:28Microbial Nutrition
Organisms exhibit remarkable metabolic diversity, categorized based on how they acquire energy and carbon. These strategies enable survival in various ecological niches and are essential for maintaining energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.Energy and Carbon SourcesOrganisms are classified as phototrophs or chemotrophs based on energy acquisition. Phototrophs use light as their energy source, while chemotrophs rely on oxidizing chemical compounds. Further differentiation arises...