Chronic Hunger Definition -

is correctly defined as a persistent state of dietary energy deficiency lasting at least one year , caused primarily by chronic poverty and lack of access to food, not by temporary food shortages. Its proper technical name is undernourishment . It is distinct from acute hunger (famine) in duration, cause, and biological effects, and it is most reliably measured through caloric intake below the MDER, child stunting rates, and the Food Insecurity Experience Scale.

Addressing chronic hunger requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach:

Chronic hunger is a state of long-term undernourishment where an individual does not consume enough calories or essential nutrients on a regular basis to maintain a normal, healthy, and active life. While media attention often focuses on sudden, acute famines, chronic hunger is far more widespread, affecting approximately globally in 2024. The Official Definition chronic hunger definition

This is measured using the indicator, which estimates the proportion of a population whose caloric intake falls below the minimum dietary energy requirement (MDER).

The FAO defines chronic hunger (undernourishment) as: is correctly defined as a persistent state of

It is operationalized as: (varies by country, age, sex, and activity level).

is defined as a prolonged state of undernourishment. Unlike temporary hunger caused by a missed meal, chronic hunger occurs when a person consistently does not have access to enough food to meet their daily dietary energy requirements over an extended period. The FAO defines chronic hunger (undernourishment) as: It

"A state, lasting for at least one year, of inability to acquire enough food, defined as a level of food intake insufficient to meet dietary energy requirements."

The standard metric for defining chronic hunger globally is the .