Length for age indicates which condition in the Waterlow criteria?

Length for age indicates which condition in the Waterlow criteria?

• A. Underweight
• B. Wasting
• C. Stunting
• D. Overgrowth

Answer: (C)

Length-for-age assesses how a child’s linear growth compares to what’s expected for their age. In the Waterlow framework, this indicator tracks chronic malnutrition because it reflects long-term inadequate nutrition and repeated illness rather than a short-term deficit. A low length-for-age indicates stunting, meaning the child has experienced prolonged growth restriction. Wasting involves low weight relative to height (acute malnutrition), while underweight combines aspects of both, and overgrowth isn’t a standard Waterlow category. So, length for age is a measure of stunting.

Length-for-age assesses how a child’s linear growth compares to what’s expected for their age. In the Waterlow framework, this indicator tracks chronic malnutrition because it reflects long-term inadequate nutrition and repeated illness rather than a short-term deficit. A low length-for-age indicates stunting, meaning the child has experienced prolonged growth restriction. Wasting involves low weight relative to height (acute malnutrition), while underweight combines aspects of both, and overgrowth isn’t a standard Waterlow category. So, length for age is a measure of stunting.