| Underweight | Wasting |
|---|---|
| A child's weight is low relative to their age, signifying chronic malnutrition. | A child's weight is excessively low for their height or body size, indicating acute malnutrition. |
| This condition reflects both historical and current nutritional state. | This condition reflects recent and substantial weight loss or an inability to gain weight. |
| It is assessed by plotting weight-for-age on growth charts. | It is assessed by plotting weight-for-height on growth charts. |