Child Wasting Globally
Child wasting is the life-threatening result of poor nutrient intake, recurrent illnesses, maternal malnutrition, low birthweight, poor feeding and care practices, or infection exacerbated by food insecurity, limited access to drinking water and poverty. Children suffering from wasting have weakened immunity, are susceptible to long-term developmental delays and face an increased risk of death, particularly when wasting is severe.
The number of children who suffer from wasting globally keeps increasing dramatically as a result of multiple conflicts, epidemics and food insecurity, including that caused by climate change-induced droughts and flooding. Yet, wasting is not only a characteristic of crisis. In fact, two third of all children with wasting live in places that are not facing emergencies.
Children suffering from severe wasting require early detection and timely treatment and care to survive. Children living in vulnerable contexts and at risk of malnutrition need immediate preventative actions.
Act now
Scaled up efforts are still required so that all children with severe wasting are reached with the timely treatment and care they need to survive and thrive, while children living in vulnerable settings are protected from wasting.
We must act now so what the Sustainable Development Goals target of reducing child wasting prevalence to below 3 per cent can be achieved by 2030, and more children can survive and thrive.
Child Wasting estimates
