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Most of the country is kept well hidden, with more than four in 10 people believed to be undernourished and needing help.

He said he soon found himself in the same situation as the Filipinos – overworked and undernourished.

"We believe this new model will help us investigate many of the major challenges facing undernourished children, including higher rates of infection and changes in cognitive development," said Cowardin, part of UVA's Department of Pediatrics.

"The people on my operating table were undernourished. A lot of them were cachectic," she said, referring to people experiencing extreme weight loss and muscle wasting.

The food system's reliance on undocumented and low-paid workers yields undernourished children who often are unable to learn.