Wasting refers to a condition where a child has a low weight for their height. While underweight refers to a condition where a child has a low weight for their age. A child who is underweight may be stunted, wasted, or both. Wasting is associated with an increased risk of death and infection such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, and measles in children.
- What causes wasting in children?
Inadequate or poor infant and young child feeding practices (e.g., poor breastfeeding, not exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months, poor varied diets, starvation), poor access to health care and food as well as infections (such as diarrhoea) due to poor sanitation, unsafe water etc. can contribute to wasting in children. - Is my child at risk of wasting?
The ages 0 – 5 years are critical stages, where wasting can occur affecting the child’s growth even in adulthood. - How does one know if their child may be wasted?
Antenatal visits will help to highlight a mother’s nutritional and health status that can put their baby at risk. Postnatal visits will also help to highlight if a child is at risk of wasting especially during measurement of the child’s weight and height. We recommend that as much as possible you do not miss these visits. - My child is losing too much weight, what should I do?
Kindly confirm this with your health professional and work with your health professional to design a solution suitable for your child. We recommend you follow your health professional’s advice - What can I do to help prevent my child from losing too much weight?
Mothers should improve their nutritional and health status before, during and after birth. As much as possible they should not miss their antenatal and postnatal visits. Additionally, breastfeeding should be initiated early, where possible in the first hour and exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months observed. After 6 months, varied and adequate diets should be introduced to the child and environment and water kept clean and safe.
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Written and reviewed by: Irene Danquah, ANutr
Last page review: 23/12/2021
Next page review: 31/12/2024