Hunger is wreaking havoc not only with individuals but with economics, education and public health.
The 13th World Food Day Forum at Seton Hill University Friday delved into the ways that hunger impacts the world and this region.
Speakers, including Seton Hill university professors in business, nutrition and biology and a representative from the Westmoreland County Food Bank, explained to the audience of mostly students that the problem of hunger has been exacerbated in recent years by other issues such as global warming, a failing economy and the use of food as biofuel.
Janice Sandrick, director of Seton Hill's coordinated program in nutrition/dietetics, said 854 million people worldwide are hungry.
"It's a vast and disturbing problem," she said.
While many believe malnutrition is a problem only in emerging nations, Sandrick said children in the United States are developing bone issues such as rickets.
"We do have low birth weight in this country, which is appalling with our wealth and our health care system," Sandrick said.
Malnutrition results in low birth weight, impaired mental and physical development and vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which can make people susceptible to disease.
Hunger impacts education as well.
Jamie Fornsaglio, assistant professor of biology at Seton Hill, said malnourished individuals tend to have a 60-point lower IQ.
Fornsaglio said environmental events, such as global warming, are adversely affecting crops.
She believes more genetically modified crops must be developed that are resistant to disease, can grow in harsh climates and have a higher nutritional value.
Marlene Kozak, director of the Westmoreland County Food Bank, said hunger isn't just a problem in other countries, but here in the county.
Between 13,000 and 15,000 county residents rely on the food bank every month. But the food bank believes an additional 40,000 need their help.
"Those are staggering numbers," Kozak said. "We were stunned when we found out we're only serving about a third of the people who need our programs."
But faced with federal and state cuts and rising food prices, Kozak said food banks are facing a "impending disaster."
"Without a doubt, our government, federal and state with myriad resources, must provide the primary role to solve the problem of hunger in the United States," Kozak said.
Some 36 million Americans were considered food insecure in 2006. That's 10 percent of all adults and 17 percent of children.
The cost of dealing with the damage hunger causes worldwide is $30 billion a year, according to Doina Vlad, Seton Hill associate professor of business. Vlad said the hunger costs five to 20 times more than the programs needed to fix it.
Catherine Guinta, associate professor of business at Seton Hill, urged those in the audience to send $5 a month to the food bank when they are paying their bills every month.
"You can do a little, but it can make such an enormous difference," she said.
