Summary IB Geography Option F notes: The Geography
of Food and Health
Option F: The Geography of Food & Health 3
Measuring food & health 3
Global patterns in food and nutrition 3
The nutrition transition 5
Global patterns in health indicators 6
Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy — HALE: 6
Infant mortality rate 6
Maternal mortality rate 6
Access to sanitation 7
Access to health services 7
The epidemiological transition 7
Food systems & the spread of disease 8
A systems approach to food production 8
Case study: Indian cow herds 8
Variations in food consumption 9
Physical processes: 10
Human processes: 10
Diffusion 11
Barriers of disease diffusion: 11
Vector-borne and water-borne diseases 12
Vector-borne disease: Malaria 12
Cholera — a water borne disease 13
Stakeholders in food & health 13
International organisations, governments & NGOs in combating food insecurity &
disease 13
Combating food security: 13
United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO): 13
World Food Programme (WFP): 14
National governments & food subsidies: 14
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs): 14
World Health Organisation (WHO): 14
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): 15
The influence of TNCs and the media in shaping food consumption habits 15
Gender roles related to food and health 17
Gender, food security & nutrition: 17
Gender & food production in the developing world: 17
Inequality & discrimination against women: 18
Female carers: 18
Ageing populations & female carers: 18
Female carers in the USA: 18
Factors affecting the severity of famine 19
Case study: Famine in Ethiopia, 2015-16: 19
Future health & food security & sustainability 20
1
,Summary IB Geography Option F notes: The Geography
of Food and Health
Possible solutions to food insecurity 20
Short-term measures: 20
Medium-term measures: 20
Long-term measures: 21
Case study: Tackling food insecurity in Bangladesh 21
Food waste: 21
Contemporary approaches to food production 22
Genetically modified food: 22
Vertical farming: 22
In vitro meat: 23
Prevention and treatment of disease 23
Pandemics 23
Case study: The diabetes pandemic 24
2
, Summary IB Geography Option F notes: The Geography
of Food and Health
Option F: The Geography of Food & Health
Measuring food & health
Global patterns in food and nutrition
Food security: food security for a population exists when all its people, at all times, have
access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food
preferences for an active and healthy life.
Hunger: is usually understood to refer to the distress associated with a lack of sufficient
calories
Malnutrition: Refers more broadly to both undernutrition (problems caused by deficiencies)
and overnutrition (problems caused by unbalanced diets, such as consuming too many
calories in relation to the requirements with or without low intake of micronutrient-rich foods)
Undernutrition: goes beyond calories and signifies deficiencies in any or all of the following
energy, protein and/or essential vitamins and minerals.
Child Stunting: the share of children under the age of five who are stunted (that is, who have
a low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition)
Child Wasting: the share of children under the age of five who are wasted (that is, who have
a low weight for their height, reflecting acute malnutrition)
Child Mortality: the mortality rate of children under the age of five (in part, a reflection of the
fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments.
Global Hunger Index:
Many countries have had a reduced hunger index since 2000, however, the only country that
does not fit this trend is Venezuela, where its hunger index has increased by 8 points. A
country that has had a major change is Angola, where its GHI has decreased by 38 points, a
major change.
3
of Food and Health
Option F: The Geography of Food & Health 3
Measuring food & health 3
Global patterns in food and nutrition 3
The nutrition transition 5
Global patterns in health indicators 6
Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy — HALE: 6
Infant mortality rate 6
Maternal mortality rate 6
Access to sanitation 7
Access to health services 7
The epidemiological transition 7
Food systems & the spread of disease 8
A systems approach to food production 8
Case study: Indian cow herds 8
Variations in food consumption 9
Physical processes: 10
Human processes: 10
Diffusion 11
Barriers of disease diffusion: 11
Vector-borne and water-borne diseases 12
Vector-borne disease: Malaria 12
Cholera — a water borne disease 13
Stakeholders in food & health 13
International organisations, governments & NGOs in combating food insecurity &
disease 13
Combating food security: 13
United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO): 13
World Food Programme (WFP): 14
National governments & food subsidies: 14
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs): 14
World Health Organisation (WHO): 14
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): 15
The influence of TNCs and the media in shaping food consumption habits 15
Gender roles related to food and health 17
Gender, food security & nutrition: 17
Gender & food production in the developing world: 17
Inequality & discrimination against women: 18
Female carers: 18
Ageing populations & female carers: 18
Female carers in the USA: 18
Factors affecting the severity of famine 19
Case study: Famine in Ethiopia, 2015-16: 19
Future health & food security & sustainability 20
1
,Summary IB Geography Option F notes: The Geography
of Food and Health
Possible solutions to food insecurity 20
Short-term measures: 20
Medium-term measures: 20
Long-term measures: 21
Case study: Tackling food insecurity in Bangladesh 21
Food waste: 21
Contemporary approaches to food production 22
Genetically modified food: 22
Vertical farming: 22
In vitro meat: 23
Prevention and treatment of disease 23
Pandemics 23
Case study: The diabetes pandemic 24
2
, Summary IB Geography Option F notes: The Geography
of Food and Health
Option F: The Geography of Food & Health
Measuring food & health
Global patterns in food and nutrition
Food security: food security for a population exists when all its people, at all times, have
access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food
preferences for an active and healthy life.
Hunger: is usually understood to refer to the distress associated with a lack of sufficient
calories
Malnutrition: Refers more broadly to both undernutrition (problems caused by deficiencies)
and overnutrition (problems caused by unbalanced diets, such as consuming too many
calories in relation to the requirements with or without low intake of micronutrient-rich foods)
Undernutrition: goes beyond calories and signifies deficiencies in any or all of the following
energy, protein and/or essential vitamins and minerals.
Child Stunting: the share of children under the age of five who are stunted (that is, who have
a low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition)
Child Wasting: the share of children under the age of five who are wasted (that is, who have
a low weight for their height, reflecting acute malnutrition)
Child Mortality: the mortality rate of children under the age of five (in part, a reflection of the
fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments.
Global Hunger Index:
Many countries have had a reduced hunger index since 2000, however, the only country that
does not fit this trend is Venezuela, where its hunger index has increased by 8 points. A
country that has had a major change is Angola, where its GHI has decreased by 38 points, a
major change.
3
