Table 1.
Waterlow classification of undernutrition
| Normal | Mild* | Moderate* | Severe* | ||
| Weight for height (wasting) |
%+ Z score |
90 – 120 2.0 to −0.99 |
80 – 89 −1 to −1.99 |
70 –79 −2.0 to −2.99 |
< 70% <−3.0 |
| Height for age | % | 95 – 110 | 90 – 94 | 85 – 89 | < 85 |
| (stunting) | Z score | 2.0 to −0.99 | −1.0 to −1.99 | −2.0 to −2.99 | < −3.0 |
Without oedema. Presence of oedema denotes severe malnutrition (kwashiorkor) even without severe wasting (Marasmus).
+ Percentage of the median World Health Organization (WHO) / United States National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference.