Passage

Medium

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report (2024) revealed that 733 million people faced malnutrition in 2023— an increase of 152 million since 2019.

This trend is linked to food price dynamics. In 2022, the World Bank estimated that a 1% rise in global food prices could push 10 million people into extreme poverty. Rising food costs and inequality have intensified "hidden hunger," affecting at least 2.8 billion people in 2022 alone.

Hidden hunger is a deficiency of essential micronutrients like zinc, iodine, and iron. The signs of this form of malnutrition are hidden as individuals may appear healthy while suffering severe health impacts. Clinical signs emerge only in extreme cases. Traditionally linked to caloric deficiency, hunger is now recognized to include micronutrient inadequacy, which can harm health even when caloric intake isn't severely affected.

The Food Security and Nutrition report highlights that while it may seem intuitive that food-insecure individuals are less likely to maintain a healthy diet, the relationship is complex, shaped by factors like food environments, consumer behaviour, and the affordability of nutritious foods.

In some cases, food insecurity is linked to lower consumption of all food types and a higher reliance on staple foods for dietary energy. In others, it can be associated with reduced intake of nutritious foods and increased consumption of energy-dense foods high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and salt. As a result, food insecurity and "hidden hunger" can result not only in undernutrition but can also lead to overweight and obesity.

How can food insecurity paradoxically contribute to obesity?

by causing people to eat excessive amounts of protein

by encouraging over consumption of cheap, unhealthy energy-dense foods.

by limiting access to all food types, reducing overall consumption.

by increasing the availability of nutrient-rich food in low-income areas

✅ Correct Option: 2

Option 1 -> The passage does not mention excessive protein consumption as a factor linking food insecurity to obesity.

Option 2 -> The passage explicitly states that food insecurity can be "associated with reduced intake of nutritious foods and increased consumption of energy-dense foods high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and salt," which leads to overweight and obesity.

Option 3 -> While the passage mentions limited access reducing consumption in some cases, this scenario leads to undernutrition, not obesity—it doesn't explain the paradox.

Option 4 -> This contradicts food insecurity and is not supported by the passage, which discusses lack of access to nutritious foods.

Hence, Option 2 -> Food insecurity paradoxically causes obesity because people turn to cheap, energy-dense foods (high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and salt) when they cannot afford nutritious options. This creates a situation where individuals may consume enough calories to gain weight but lack essential micronutrients, resulting in both "hidden hunger" and obesity simultaneously -> correct

Question 9

What is the primary distinction between "hidden hunger" and traditional caloric deficiency?

Question 11

What consequence does the World Bank estimate of a 1% rise in global food prices?

Question 12

Which factor complicates the relationship between food insecurity and diet quality?

How can food insecurity paradoxically contribute to obesity?

Solution

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CUET English Past Year Questions (Topic-Wise)