我們平常所說的“饑餓”多是缺乏食物導致的。可是，你知道嗎？就算每天吃得很飽，你的身體也可能處于“饑餓”狀態。長久下去，身體各項機能都可能會受到影響。

Hidden hunger is unlike the hunger that comes from a lack of food. It is micronutrient deficiency caused by a chronic 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 disastrous: 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 affected.

“隱性饑餓”與傳統意義上因缺乏食物而導致的饑餓不同，它是由于長期缺乏維生素和礦物質而導致的微量營養素缺乏癥。因為沒有明顯的癥狀，所以人們很少會意識到自己處于“隱性饑餓”狀態。不過，其引發的后果卻可能是災難性的：“隱性饑餓”可能導致智障、健康狀況及工作效率不佳，甚至會導致死亡。全世界每三個人當中就有一個人處于“隱性饑餓”狀態。發展中國家低收入群體中的婦女和兒童是受“隱性饑餓”影響最多的人群。

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

提高“隱性饑餓”人群的健康水平有著廣泛的經濟意義，因為缺乏基本的維生素和礦物質：

1. can increase child and maternal mortality and cause birth defects and developmental disabilities

會增加兒童和孕產婦死亡率，同時導致出生缺陷及發育性殘疾

2.?contributes to and exacerbates global poverty

致使全球貧困局面惡化

3.?constrains women's empowerment

限制女性平權運動

4. limits the productivity and economic growth of nations

限制國家的生產力和經濟增長

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（中國日報網英語點津 Helen）

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