Does Hunger Affect Behavior?

Hungry children have more ear infections, hospital admissions and get more colds, according to the Brandeis University Center on Hunger and Poverty. Lack of food does more than make kids physically ill. Inadequate nutrition over a long period, stunts intellectual and physical development. Long or short-term hunger causes children to display behavior very different from their well-fed peers, all other things equal. Feeding America reports that in 2011 more than 16.7 million children under the age of 18 years lived in homes where parents struggled to feed children nutritious meals.

  1. Irritability and Crabbiness

    • Babies can only signal their hunger through crying, fussiness and irritability. KidsHealth warns new parents not to wait for these signs because by the time a baby is crying from hunger, he is extremely hungry. The medical group recommends feeding when you first notice signs that your baby is hungry -- maybe he gets slightly fussy or sucks his fingers. If the signs aren't clear, scheduling regular-timed feedings is recommended. The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, a mental health research, treatment and teaching organization, reports kids between ages 3 and 18 get crabby when hungry between regular meals. A teen's irritability or a young child's tantrum could simply mean he needs a healthy snack to tide him over until a meal is on the table. Junk food provides a quick boost, but it doesn't truly satisfy hunger as healthy snacks of fruits and vegetables do -- and they also give important nutrients.

    Attention and Focus

    • Hunger makes it hard to pay attention and interferes with any activity that requires focus. Hungry students do poorly in school, and federal and state education agencies use this fact as a basis to give food to children in school breakfast and lunch programs. Instead of focusing attention on math or English, young children focus instead on stomach noises or pain from hunger, according to education specialist Stephen Krashen. Kids unable to focus may act out in class, clowning around or arguing, thus creating problems for teachers and classmates; other hungry children may simply space out missing the lesson, but either way, the child's not trying to be difficult. He's running low on energy and needs sustenance.

    Lethargy and Low Energy

    • The lack of food cuts the amount of energy available to the body for normal things, and hungry kids don't have energy to do activities. Babies and toddlers need regular meals to supply energy and give the nutrition to build minds and bodies. Teens need increased amounts of food during this important development time as the body experiences growth spurts, according to the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre.

    Insecurity and Hoarding

    • Children who have gone without regular meals feel insecure about finding food for the day, and this shapes the child's daily behavior, according to clinical psychologist Rick Delaney. Kids may save food from the meal or hoard food from the kitchen, even when a recent meal filled the child's tummy. The feeling of insecurity also influences the child's overall self-esteem and confidence in life. Children living for a long time in a household with food shortages sometimes develop psychological problems such as compulsive hoarding where the child regularly collects and hides food for later use. These feelings and habits may continue after the living situation improves and regular, healthy meals are available. If you are concerned about the physical, mental or emotional health of a child who is currently eating and enjoying healthy meals on a regular basis, consult with your pediatrician to explore possible supplement needs or mental health strategies.

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