What is Hunger?

Hunger isn’t just the feeling you get before dinner; it’s a global crisis that affects millions of lives every day. It happens when people don’t have enough food to live active, healthy lives, and its impact goes far beyond an empty stomach.

There are two main types of hunger. Chronic hunger lasts over time, often due to poverty and lack of access to food. Acute hunger is more sudden and severe, usually caused by emergencies like natural disasters, conflict, or economic collapse. Right now, more than 800 million people around the world experience hunger, often because of systems that are unequal or broken.

But hunger isn’t just a problem in faraway places. It exists even in wealthy countries. In the United States, food insecurity affects millions of families, creating a cycle that can be incredibly hard to escape. People facing hunger often rely on food banks and community programs, but stigma and limited access can make it hard to get the help they need.

The effects of food insecurity go beyond missing meals. It can damage physical health, increase stress and anxiety, and lower overall quality of life. That’s why addressing hunger isn’t just about giving out food; it’s about creating fair, lasting solutions that ensure everyone has consistent access to nutritious meals.