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In reply to the discussion: Children In Gaza Are Starving. Here's How Starvation Can Affect A Child's Health [View all]limbicnuminousity
(1,406 posts)From the article:
"Beyond just physical ailments, starvation can seriously affect a childs cognitive and intellectual growth. It is well documented that starvation deprives the brain of nutrients it needs to function properly, which can lead to decreased attention, memory loss, suboptimal problem solving, irritability, depression, mood swings and anxiety. Children suffering from starvation can thus perform suboptimal in school, which can affect their long-term career ambitions and economic opportunity in the future. Furthermore, the long-term ramifications of malnutrition can result in a multitude of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, many of which are linked to substance abuse, suicide and shortened life spans."
Put a kid in that kind of situation and they learn a few lessons. One, they learn that the authorities (family, friends, neighboring adults, leaders, government) are incapable of keeping them safe. Two, they learn that the world at large doesn't really give a damn whether they live or die. Three (eventually), they learn that their existence is a nuisance because it impedes the development of beach-front property. Some may emerge from that experience and develop into reasonably healthy human beings. Some won't. The consequences of that suffering won't be felt until this generation of children reaches maturity.