Underweight in children and adolescents 5-19 years

Definition

Proportion of children and adolescents aged 5-19 years with BMI-for-age < 1 standard deviation below the median of the WHO growth reference for children and adolescents.

Relevance

Children and adolescents who are underweight may have a greater risk of infection and nutritional deficiencies. Their height may be impacted by their inadequate intake of energy and macronutrients during periods of growth.