Institutionalized Starvation and Its consequences

It's common knowledge that adolescents have poor eating habits. Eating disorders, economic disadvantages, general lack of appetite, illness — the list of factors in teen hunger goes on. Studies have proved time and time again that the absence of food is extremely detrimental to the human body. But what exactly happens with each meal missed?

Art by Raha Ghoroghcian, Art Editor

Breakfast

According to an article published by Stanford Lifestyle Medicine, eating breakfast starts the genetic pathways connected to circadian oscillations in the gut, which predict daily energy levels and boost metabolism. Someone skipping breakfast may be hungry throughout the day, leading to late-night snacking or binge eating, as the underfed body assumes food is scarce and overeats to catch up. For some, skipping breakfast is an attempt to lose weight or a byproduct of early morning classes. For others who suffer from food scarcity, a systemic issue often stemming from racial and socioeconomic divides, it’s not an option. According to Cambridge University, students of immigrant families are less likely to eat breakfast, especially as the Bureau of Labor states that their poverty rate is more than twice that of U.S. citizens.

Lunch

The midday meal re-energizes the body and raises blood sugar levels, which are vital components to maintaining energy. According to No Kid Hungry, not eating can affect concentration, memory, mood and motor skills, all of which lead to decreased academic performance. Additionally, Feed the Children states that food insecurity leads to lower math and reading test scores, more absences and tardiness and a higher risk of dropping out of high school. Students may not eat their lunch because the lunch lines are too long, because they do not have enough funds to bring lunch to school or because they fear judgment or embarrassment from accepting free and reduced lunch. This becomes a systemic issue, as people of lower socioeconomic class may struggle to keep up in class with lower focus and energy levels compared to those who have easier and more reliable access to constant nourishment.

Dinner

Dinner provides nutrition right before sleep, which, for most, is the longest time without some kind of food. Everyday Health states that many people eat their vegetables at dinner time — yet nine out of ten Americans are reported to be eating less than the recommended servings of produce. The inaccessibility of fresh produce becomes an institutionalized problem given the prevalence of food deserts, usually lower-income places around the world with little to no access to fruits and vegetables. Having nutritional balance in each meal is too important to be limited to the upper socioeconomic classes. Still, among the more wealthy, the societal stigma around food groups such as fats and carbohydrates additionally limits the balance of a meal. However, Maricopa Community College states that these food groups are integral to upholding one's health: proteins are important for building tissues, cells, and hormone and enzyme production; carbohydrates produce energy; fats provide energy storage, signal molecules for proper cellular communication and provide structure to cells; vitamins and minerals regulate natural body processes. When one skips dinner, they skip essential nutrients they might not get with any other meal.

Over time, according to VeryWell Health, eating less than recommended can lead to malnutrition, thinning hair, skin changes, muscle loss, frequent illness and menstrual cycle disruption, among others. With the lowering of glucose, anyone eating less can suffer blurred vision, slurred speech, confusion, fainting or even seizures.