Low weight for height is known as wasting and usually indicates recent and severe weight loss.

Appeared in: MP CHO - 2022

Explanation

Wasting, which is clinically defined as having a low weight for one's height.
This measurement is a key indicator of acute malnutrition, reflecting recent and severe weight loss.
It is often caused by factors like inadequate food intake, recent illness (e.g., diarrhea), or improper feeding practices.
According to WHO standards, a child is considered wasted if their weight-for-height Z-score is more than two standard deviations below the median.

Option B: Stunting is defined as low height-for-age, not low weight-for-height.
Option C: Underweight is defined as low weight-for-age. It is a composite measure that can reflect either stunting, wasting, or both, but it is not the specific term for low weight-for-height.
Option D: PEM (Protein-Energy Malnutrition) is a broad term for a spectrum of nutritional deficiencies. Wasting is a specific sign used to diagnose and classify the severity of PEM, not the definition itself.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Anthropometric indicators of malnutrition as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses, especially in community and pediatric settings, use these anthropometric measurements (weight-for-height, height-for-age, weight-for-age) for nutritional screening, surveillance, and monitoring the effectiveness of feeding programs.
Identifying wasting is a critical nursing function as it signals a high risk of morbidity and mortality, requiring urgent intervention.
In the Indian context, Anganwadi workers and community health nurses routinely track these metrics using growth charts to identify at-risk children for early referral and management under programs like the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question. It is asking for the specific term that defines 'low weight for height'.
This is a factual recall question based on standard definitions in nutrition and public health.
Recall the three main anthropometric indices: Wasting, Stunting, and Underweight.
Mentally match each term to its definition: Wasting = low weight-for-height; Stunting = low height-for-age; Underweight = low weight-for-age.
The question directly provides the definition for Wasting. Select the matching option.
Differentiate from PEM, recognizing it as the overall condition, not the specific measurement index.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 177-179

E6 textbook of Applied Biochemistry and Nutrition & Dietetics 2nd Edition Harbans Lal (pp 26-464 of 479) p. 26-479

Practise the full MP CHO - 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.