Wasting and underweight reflect acute growth faltering.
Underweight is less specific on timing but wasting
indicates severe acute undernutrition [29,30]. Both
can result from severe shortage of food, diseases, or
conditions that cause acute loss of weight such as
diarrhea and acute febrile illnesses. Stunting on the
other hand, reflects a more cumulative retardation of
growth mainly due to chronic causes, such as poor
diet, chronic hunger, and recurrent or chronic infections
[29,30]. Child overweight results from poor feeding
practices and physical inactivity. It is associated with obesity
and high risk of non-communicable diseases early in
adulthood [1,14].