According to the Waterlow criteria, wasting is a marker of what?

• A. Acute malnutrition
• B. Chronic malnutrition
• C. Obesity
• D. Dehydration

Answer: (A)

Wasting signals acute malnutrition. In the Waterlow framework, wasting is defined by a low weight-for-height (or weight-for-length in infants), which reflects a recent or current loss of body weight often due to inadequate intake or an acute illness. Chronic malnutrition, by contrast, shows up as stunting—low height-for-age—indicating longer-term growth failure. Underweight can reflect either acute or chronic malnutrition depending on the context, while obesity or dehydration are not the categories used in Waterlow for malnutrition assessment.