By Anvita Nadgir

Gluttony, one of seven deadly sins, is the overindulgence in food and drinks.  Although most of us don’t overindulge on a daily basis, we usually have the privilege of having three nutritious and scrumptious meals daily. However, for many, providing food for themselves and their families is an everyday ordeal. The excessive desire for food leads to a lack of it for the needy. Living in such conditions seems nearly impossible and has given rise to rampant inequity to which those living in comfort are often oblivious. Food shortage similarly links to the issue of food insecurity. According to The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, food insecurity is the disruption of food intake or eating patterns because of lack of money and other resources. 

Numerous factors influence the shortage of food and water. Apart from poverty, the most significant cause is global warming. Lack of water for irrigation, droughts, infertile land, and acid rain lead to the destruction of crops, and hence food shortages. Many countries face such shortages at varying levels of seriousness. However, the issue of food shortage is felt most severely in Africa. The countries most affected by extreme poverty and hunger are mainly those located in sub-Saharan Africa , where one in four people suffer from hunger and food insecurity. 

The subsequent chain of events following food shortage makes the situation a pressing concern. Lack of sufficient nutrition makes people vulnerable to various diseases and health malfunctions such as malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, marasmus, and kwashiorkor. Furthermore, over 10,000 deaths every day are solely due to starvation. Failure to understand the gravity of this issue makes it difficult for change to occur. 

In contemporary society, the dual problem of starvation and obesity co-exist. As we indulge in delicacies, the number of people suffering from malnutrition rises. Many may question how they alone can tackle a large-scale problem like food insecurity. Even seemingly insignificant tasks like taking less on your plate in the first serving of a meal or donating non-perishable items to your local food bank can alleviate the issue of modern food insecurity. Spreading awareness about the jarring realities of food shortage can increase involvement to tackle food shortage on a global level. Envision a society where everyone’s stomach is satisfied, and issues like starvation are behind us. This dream can become a reality if humanity, as a whole, takes a step towards reducing food shortage.