The findings add an economic dimension to long-standing concerns over hunger and public health. For Indonesia, improving access to nutritious food and supporting healthier living may not only improve quality of life but also strengthen the productive capacity of the population.
Hunger Remains More Than a Food-Supply Problem
Hunger is not simply the physical feeling of an empty stomach. The researchers describe it as a broader condition involving inadequate access to sufficient and nutritious food. Prolonged inadequate food intake can affect physical and mental health and limit people's ability to participate fully in economic activities.
The study cites the Global Hunger Index 2025, which recorded Indonesia's score at 14.6, placing the country in the moderate hunger category. The researchers argue that the figure illustrates why food security remains a structural concern even as Indonesia has made progress in economic development and food production.
Healthy living is similarly treated as a broad concept. It includes access to healthcare, sanitation, nutrition education, adequate nutrition, and an environment that supports healthy behavior. These conditions can influence physical and cognitive functioning, which are important for people's ability to work productively.
How the Researchers Analyzed Indonesia's Data
Setyastanto, Feridah, and Yanti used quantitative secondary data covering Indonesia from 2014 through 2023. The data came from published Indonesia Hunger Index and Healthy Living Index reports.
The researchers analyzed the 10-year time series using multiple linear regression and statistical hypothesis tests with SPSS. In simple terms, the analysis examined whether changes in hunger levels and healthy living were statistically associated with changes in economic productivity, both separately and when considered together.
The statistical results showed significant relationships for both variables. The regression table reported a coefficient of 0.050 for hunger level and 0.20 for healthy living, while both variables produced statistically significant test results.
Key Findings
Several results stand out from the analysis:
- 92.5% R²: The model's R Square was 0.925, meaning the two variables accounted for 92.5% of the observed variation in economic productivity within the model. The remaining 7.5% was attributed to factors outside the study.
- Hunger level was statistically significant: The hunger variable recorded a t-value of 24.547, with a reported significance level below 0.05.
- Healthy living was statistically significant: The healthy-living variable recorded a t-value of 7.180, also meeting the study's statistical significance threshold.
- Combined effect was significant: The simultaneous test produced an F-value of 324.186 with a significance value of 0.000, leading the researchers to conclude that hunger and healthy living jointly have a significant relationship with economic productivity.
The authors connect these findings with the broader human-capital perspective, which views health and nutrition as investments that can strengthen people's capacity to engage in productive economic activity.
“Reducing hunger and promoting healthy living” should be treated as complementary investments in human capital rather than separate social programs, the authors conclude.
This conclusion is attributed to Albertus Maria Setyastanto, Feridah, and Sepni Yanti of Universitas Borobudur, whose analysis emphasizes the connection between nutrition, health, and economic development.
Implications for Government and Businesses
The findings suggest that policies addressing hunger could have benefits beyond improving household welfare. The researchers recommend strengthening social protection, targeted food assistance, conditional cash transfers, community food reserves, and agricultural support to help vulnerable households obtain adequate and nutritious food.
Healthcare investment is another important area. The study highlights preventive healthcare, nutrition programs, sanitation, clean water infrastructure, maternal and child nutrition services, and Posyandu as potential components of a broader strategy to strengthen Indonesia's human capital.
Businesses can also contribute through workplace health and nutrition programs. Subsidized healthy meals, health screenings, and nutrition education could complement government efforts while potentially supporting employee productivity and reducing absenteeism.
However, the researchers caution against interpreting the 92.5% figure as proof that hunger and healthy living alone cause almost all changes in productivity. The study uses only 10 years of aggregate national data, and the authors note that broader economic trends could move alongside the variables being studied. The research also does not capture differences between regions, urban and rural populations, or socioeconomic groups.
Future studies could therefore combine national time-series data with provincial or district-level information, while adding variables such as education, income distribution, and public health spending. Household and workplace surveys could also provide a more detailed picture of how nutrition and health translate into productivity.
Author Profiles
Albertus Maria Setyastanto — Universitas Borobudur, Jakarta, Indonesia; corresponding author of the article. His specific academic degree and field of expertise are not stated in the published article.
Feridah — Universitas Borobudur, Jakarta, Indonesia. The article does not specify her academic degree or detailed field of expertise.
Sepni Yanti — Universitas Borobudur, Jakarta, Indonesia. The article does not specify her academic degree or detailed field of expertise.
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