Into how many levels is degree of undernutrition categorized in Waterlow criteria?

• A. Three
• B. Six
• C. Five
• D. Four

Answer: (D)

Waterlow criteria categorize the degree of undernutrition into four levels. This four-tier system uses anthropometric measurements—weight-for-age, weight-for-height, height-for-age—and clinical signs like edema to place a person into mild (at risk), moderate, severe, or very severe malnutrition. That gradation helps tailor treatment: milder forms can be managed with dietary counseling and community support, while severe or very severe malnutrition requires more intensive therapeutic feeding and medical care. The standard classification uses four levels, not three, five, or six.