'Poor Nutrition Doesn't Happen in Isolation'

Adequate nutrition is among the most basic of essentials. If our community is failing to meet that need, in what other ways are kids suffering? Poor nutrition doesn’t happen in isolation. It occurs alongside other risk factors like poverty, maternal depression and exposure to violence—all of which can have lasting negative effects on childhood development. The prevalence of such risks was tragically confirmed once again by the Kids Count report. -Margaret Wright, New Mexico Compass

Two reports were released this summer with very bad news for New Mexico. Our state had the dubious distinction of ranking last in the 2013 National Kids Count Data Book and Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap reports, which measured the well-being of children in our state. (To be fair, another report from the Food Research and Action Center, also released this summer, gave us good marks for making strides in our summer feeding programs in 2012).

Margaret Wright, managing editor of the online news site New Mexico Compass, reacted to the reports in an article posted on July 2.  Here are excerpts from her piece, entitled Starving for Change

Photo Credit: anotherlunch.com via Compfight cc

— It’s dismal to admit, but I wasn’t surprised when the 2013 Kids Count survey was released with New Mexico ranked dead last in the country for childhood well-being.

That’s because I’d already been reeling from the results of an unrelated study published the week before. Feeding America, a national hunger-relief charity, placed New Mexico first in the U.S. for our high levels of childhood hunger. Researchers found more than 30 percent—about one-third—of kids in our state suffering from food insecurity.

That number means far too many kids are at risk for stunted physical and brain growth. It means more of our babies die in infancy. Hungry kids don’t consume enough micronutrients, vitamins and minerals, which increases their risk of developmental delays and disabilities. They disproportionately suffer from weak immune systems and chronic diseases. They require more emergency room and doctor visits, and they exhibit higher levels of behavioral and emotional problems.

Adequate nutrition is among the most basic of essentials. If our community is failing to meet that need, in what other ways are kids suffering? Poor nutrition doesn’t happen in isolation. It occurs alongside other risk factors like poverty, maternal depression and exposure to violence—all of which can have lasting negative effects on childhood development. The prevalence of such risks was tragically confirmed once again by the Kids Count report.    Read Full Article