© t. m. whitmore today irish famine example the nutrition transition
TRANSCRIPT
© T. M. Whitmore
TODAY
• Irish famine example
•The Nutrition Transition
© T. M. Whitmore
Questions?•Synergy between nutrition and
disease continued
•Especially vulnerable populations
•Four faces of hunger
•Global Hunger
© T. M. Whitmore
Irish “hunger” of 1846-51 an example of Underlying Processes
& background • Surplus production and appropriation &
resource competition
• The potato
• Population growth
• Crop failures and subsistence crisis throughout the nineteenth century
• Racist views toward the Irish (probably delayed help)
© T. M. Whitmore
Irish “hunger” an example of Immediate/Proximate Causes &
Processes • Environmental Fluctuation – infection of
potato crop with Phytophthora infestons a fungal infection (late potato blight) spread by the wind
• Socio-Economic policies that deprived millions of entitlements to food
• A process – not a single event
© T. M. Whitmore
Irish “hunger” Process• Blight 1845 => 40% loss and famine in
1846• 1846 => near 100% loss + severe winter
=> severe famine & disease in 1847• 1847 - 1850 potato crop not blighted but
output low due to small planting (people expected blight)
• Entitlements Crops failed => loss of production
entitlement~ 500,000 people were evicted (could not
pay rent) => lost production entitlementFood prices soared => income
entitlement problems even for urban poor
© T. M. Whitmore
Irish “hunger” Responses• Slow British govt. responses (the Irish
exaggerate)
• First relief = imported maize from north America – not well tolerated
• Eventually British govt. relief schemesWorkhouses (housing workers on public
works such as roads, canals, etc.) became centers of contagion
• Duke of Norfolk suggested that the Irish should substitute curry powder for the potato and nourish themselves on curry powder mixed with water.
© T. M. Whitmore
Irish “hunger” Responses II• Corn laws repealed 1846
Little heal since the Irish had no cash regardless of grain prices
• Late in 1846 a Whig administration dedicated to a laissez-faire policyExtension of poor laws (that denied aid
to most)• Wheat, oats, barley, butter, eggs, beef and
pork were exported from the large estates Ireland in large quantities - as many as eight ships left Ireland daily carrying foodstuffs
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Irish “hunger” commentary• A “blame the victim” mentality: the Irish
were at fault for over-dependence on potatoes and high fertility (too many kids)
• The British also saw it as a “natural disaster”Charles Trevelyn (oversaw relief for Whig
govt.) “…the problem of Ireland being altogether beyond the power of man, the cure has been applied by all-wise Providence…”
• All the while – food was exported from the large estates Ireland in large quantities - as many as eight ships left Ireland daily carrying wheat, oats, barley, butter, eggs, beef and pork
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Irish “hunger” Consequences • Starvation and disease became epidemic
More died of disease than of starvation. Most were weakened from long starvation
when they finally succumbed to typhus, cholera, dysentery, and scurvy.
At least 1 million perished• 1 – 2 + million emigrated during the hunger
(mostly to US and England)• Population of Ireland
1850 = 6.5 m (down from 8.5m 5 yrs earlier)
1900 4.5 m => longer-term emigration, much to US
© T. M. Whitmore
Related historic processes of change• Interconnected “Transitions”
Demographic Transition (DT) Stages of change in mortality and fertility
=> population growth over time Regional differences-geography
Epidemiologic Transition (ET) Shift in the patterns of causes of death
over time Regional differences-geography
Nutrition Transition Shifts in dietary and physical activity-
inactivity patterns Regional differences-geography
© T. M. Whitmore
The Nutrition Transition’s “Stage 1: “Collecting Food”
• Hunter gatherersHigh in carbohydrates and fiber and low
in fat, especially saturated fatActivity patterns are very high with little
obesityStages 1-2 of DT First phase in ET
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The Nutrition Transition’s “Stage 2: “Famine”
• Early agriculture and contemporary least developed areas generallyDiet becomes much less varied and
subject to larger variations and periods of acute scarcity of food
Little change in activity levels Stages 1-2 of DT First-Second phases in ET
© T. M. Whitmore
The Nutrition Transition’s “Stage 3: “Receding Famine”
• Scientific agriculture, early industrialization, and contemporary developing areasConsumption of fruits, vegetables, and
animal protein increases, and starchy staples become less important in the diet
Activity patterns start to shift and inactivity and leisure becomes a part of the lives of more people
Stages 2-3 in DT Second/Third Phases of ET
© T. M. Whitmore
The Nutrition Transition’s “Stage 4: “Nutrition-related Non-
communicable Disease (NR-NCD)”
• Associated with “modern” industrial lifestylesA diet high in total fat, cholesterol,
sugar, and other refined carbohydrates and low in polyunsaturated fatty acids and fiber
Often accompanied by an increasingly sedentary life
Stage 4 in DT Third Phase of ET
© T. M. Whitmore
The Nutrition Transition’s “Stage 5: “Behavioral Change”
• “Post-modern” industrial lifestylesA new dietary pattern => changes in
diet associated with the desire to prevent or delay degenerative diseases and prolong health
May be associated with increased “recreational” or health related exercise
Stage 4 in DT Third Phase of ET
Demographic Transition Model
Nutrition Patterns 1 & 2 Nutrition Patterns 3, 4, & 5
Nutrition Patterns 1 & 2 Nutrition Patterns 3, 4, & 5
New York Times
New York Times
Stages of Health, Nutritional, and Demographic ChangeStages of Health, Nutritional, and Demographic Change
Focus on famine alleviation/prevention
Focus on family planning,infectious disease control
Chronic diseases predominate
Reduced fertility, aging
Focus on medical intervention, policy initiatives, behavioral change
Focus on healthy aging spatial redistribution
Demographic Transition Epidemiologic Transition Nutrition Transition
Receding pestilence, poorenvironmental conditions
Reduced mortality,changing age structure
High prevalence infectious disease
Diet-related noncommmucable
diseases predominate
Receding famine
High prevalence undernutrition
High fertility/mortality
Source: Popkin, Barry M. ( 2002) Public Health Nutrition 5:93-103.
Stages of the Nutrition TransitionUrbanization, economic growth, technological changes for work, leisure,
& food processing, mass media growth
Pattern 3Receding Famine
Slow mortality decline
• increased fat, sugar, processed foods
• shift in technology ofwork and leisure
Pattern 4Degenerative Disease
accelerated life expectancy,shift to increased DR-NCD,increased disability period
• reduced fat, increased fruit, veg,CHO,fiber
• replace sedentarianism with purposeful changes
in recreation, other activity
Pattern 5Behavioral Change
extended health aging,reduced DR-NCD
MCH deficiencies, weaning disease,stunting
• starchy, low variety, low fat,high fiber
• labor-intensive work/leisure
obesity emerges,bone density problems
reduced body fatness,improved bone health
Source: Popkin, Barry M. ( 2002) Public Health Nutrition 5:93-103.
2,500
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1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000
Average caloric intake in USA: 1909-2004
Source: USDA/Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, March 3, 2006
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1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000
Average total fat (grams) in USA diet: 1909-2004
Source: USDA/Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, March 3, 2006
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100
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700
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Average daily caloric intake of added fats and sugars in the USA
Source: Source: USDA/Economic Research Service
New York Times
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150
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400
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Avearge daily caloric intake of sugar and corn sweetners in the USA
Source: Source: USDA/Economic Research Service
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140
160
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Average per capita daily calories (net) from fruits and vegetables in US
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1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Average daily calorie intake of red meat and chicken in USA
Source: Source: USDA/Economic Research Service