While DietsInReview’s primary focus is weight loss, disease prevention and overall health and wellness, we are also concerned about the health impact of poverty and malnutrition. Obesity may be a major problem in the United States and most of the developed world, but many developing nations struggle with nutritional deficiencies as a result of an insufficient food supply and poverty. Nutrition, health and health care, social justice, disease, and so many other concerns are wrapped up with poverty. It can be an overwhelming and cyclical problem.
The Girl Effect aims to improve poverty, disease, war, social inequality, and the world’s economy by educating girls in the developing world. It may sound idealistic, but there is much research behind the hypothesis that when girls are given any additional education, they are less likely to marry early, have children early, die from childbirth, contract HIV, and live in poverty. The Girl Effect also recognizes the different impact that women have on children and families versus men. According to The Girl Effect Fact Sheet women reinvest 90 percent of their income into their families, while men only reinvest 30 to 40 percent. That means that educating a young girl and giving her the opportunity to earn an income is at least 50 percent more likely to reduce poverty in her family than if a young boy was given additional educational opportunities. Women can make powerful changes when given the opportunity. (more…)
