生活英语|Hidden hunger 隐性饥饿

Hidden hunger is unlike the hunger that comes from a lack of food. It is micronutrient deficiency caused by a chronic^{1 lack of vitamins and minerals that often has no visible warning signs, so that people who suffer from it may not even be aware of it. Its consequences are nevertheless disastrous2: hidden hunger can lead to mental impairment, poor health and productivity, or even death. One in three people in the world suffer from hidden hunger. Women and children from the lower income groups in developing countries are often the most affected3.}

隐性饥饿与传统意义上因缺少食物而致使的饥饿不同，它是因为长期缺少维生素和矿物质而致使的微量营养素缺少症。由于无明显的症状，所以大家极少会意识到自己处于隐性饥饿状况。不过，其引发的后果却可能是灾难性的：隐性饥饿可能致使智障、健康情况及工作效率不佳，甚至会致使死亡。全世界每三个人当中就有一个人处于隐性饥饿状况。进步中国家低收入群体中的妇女和儿童是受隐性饥饿影响最多的人群。

Improving the health of inpiduals suffering from hidden hunger has wide-ranging economic benefits because lack of essential vitamins and minerals:

提升隐性饥饿人群的健康水平有着广泛的经济意义，由于缺少基本的维生素和矿物质：

1. can increase child and maternal^{4 mortality and cause birth defects and developmental disabilities}

会增加儿童和孕产妇死亡率，同时致使出生缺点及发育性残疾

2. contributes to and exacerbates^{5 global poverty}

导致全球贫困局面恶化

3. constrains^{6 women's empowerment}

限制女人平权运动

4. limits the productivity and economic growth of nations

限制国家的生产力和经济增长