This article is about the medical syndrome. For similar terms with different meanings, see Waste (disambiguation).
In medicine, wasting, also known as wasting syndrome, refers to the process by which a debilitating disease causes muscle and fattissue to "waste" away. Wasting is sometimes referred to as "acute malnutrition" because it is believed that episodes of wasting have a short duration, in contrast to stunting, which is regarded as chronic malnutrition. An estimated 45 million children under 5 years of age (or 6.7%) were wasted in 2021.[1]: 4 Prevalence is highest in Southern Asia, followed by Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand) and South-eastern Asia.[1]: 14
World Map - Share of children with a weight too low for their height (wasting)
Wasting can be caused by an extremely low energy intake (e.g., caused by famine), nutrient losses due to infection, or a combination of low intake and high loss. Infections and conditions associated with wasting include tuberculosis, chronic diarrhea, AIDS, and superior mesenteric artery syndrome. The mechanism may involve cachectin – also called tumor necrosis factor, a macrophage-secreted cytokine. Caretakers and health providers can sometimes contribute to wasting if the patient is placed on an improper diet. Voluntary weight loss and eating disorders are excluded as causes of wasting.
Classification
Children: Weight-for-height (WFH). In infants under 24 months, recumbent (supine) length is used. WFH as % of median reference value is calculated this way:
Cutoff points may vary, but <80% (close to −2 Z-score) is often used.
Adults:
Body Mass Index (BMI) is the quotient between weight and height squared (kg/m2). An individual with a BMI < 18.5 is regarded as a case of wasting.
Percent of body weight lost (At Tufts, an unintentional loss of 6% or more in 6 months is regarded as wasting)
Treatment and prevention
Antiretrovirals and anabolic steroids have been used to treat HIV wasting syndrome.[2] Additionally, an increase in protein-rich foods such as peanut butter and legumes (dried beans and peas) can assist in controlling the loss of muscle mass.[3]
^ abUNICEF/WHO/The World Bank Group joint child malnutrition estimates: levels and trends in child malnutrition: key findings of the 2021 edition. World Health Organization. 5 May 2021. ISBN9789240025257.
^Michael Powers, "Performance-Enhancing Drugs" in Joel Houglum, in Gary L. Harrelson, Deidre Leaver-Dunn, "Principles of Pharmacology for Athletic Trainers", SLACK Incorporated, 2005, ISBN1-55642-594-5, p. 330
^"HIV wasting syndrome - HIV/AIDS". www.hiv.va.gov. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
External links
Look up wasting in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Chronic Wasting Disease and Potential Transmission to Humans, Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Unintentional Weight Loss/Wasting, Tufts University Nutrition/Infection Unit
January 25, 2023
wasting, further, information, malnutrition, this, article, about, medical, syndrome, similar, terms, with, different, meanings, waste, disambiguation, medicine, wasting, also, known, wasting, syndrome, refers, process, which, debilitating, disease, causes, mu. Further information Malnutrition This article is about the medical syndrome For similar terms with different meanings see Waste disambiguation In medicine wasting also known as wasting syndrome refers to the process by which a debilitating disease causes muscle and fat tissue to waste away Wasting is sometimes referred to as acute malnutrition because it is believed that episodes of wasting have a short duration in contrast to stunting which is regarded as chronic malnutrition An estimated 45 million children under 5 years of age or 6 7 were wasted in 2021 1 4 Prevalence is highest in Southern Asia followed by Oceania excluding Australia and New Zealand and South eastern Asia 1 14 World Map Share of children with a weight too low for their height wasting Contents 1 Causes 2 Classification 3 Treatment and prevention 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksCauses EditWasting can be caused by an extremely low energy intake e g caused by famine nutrient losses due to infection or a combination of low intake and high loss Infections and conditions associated with wasting include tuberculosis chronic diarrhea AIDS and superior mesenteric artery syndrome The mechanism may involve cachectin also called tumor necrosis factor a macrophage secreted cytokine Caretakers and health providers can sometimes contribute to wasting if the patient is placed on an improper diet Voluntary weight loss and eating disorders are excluded as causes of wasting Classification EditChildren Weight for height WFH In infants under 24 months recumbent supine length is used WFH as of median reference value is calculated this way W F H weight of a given child median weight for a given child of that height 100 displaystyle mathrm WFH frac mbox weight of a given child mbox median weight for a given child of that height times 100 Cutoff points may vary but lt 80 close to 2 Z score is often used Adults Body Mass Index BMI is the quotient between weight and height squared kg m2 An individual with a BMI lt 18 5 is regarded as a case of wasting Percent of body weight lost At Tufts an unintentional loss of 6 or more in 6 months is regarded as wasting Treatment and prevention EditAntiretrovirals and anabolic steroids have been used to treat HIV wasting syndrome 2 Additionally an increase in protein rich foods such as peanut butter and legumes dried beans and peas can assist in controlling the loss of muscle mass 3 See also EditAnorexia Atrophy Cachexia Superior mesenteric artery syndrome Weight lossReferences Edit a b UNICEF WHO The World Bank Group joint child malnutrition estimates levels and trends in child malnutrition key findings of the 2021 edition World Health Organization 5 May 2021 ISBN 9789240025257 Michael Powers Performance Enhancing Drugs in Joel Houglum in Gary L Harrelson Deidre Leaver Dunn Principles of Pharmacology for Athletic Trainers SLACK Incorporated 2005 ISBN 1 55642 594 5 p 330 HIV wasting syndrome HIV AIDS www hiv va gov Retrieved 20 August 2018 External links Edit Look up wasting in Wiktionary the free dictionary Chronic Wasting Disease and Potential Transmission to Humans Center for Disease Control and Prevention Unintentional Weight Loss Wasting Tufts University Nutrition Infection Unit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wasting amp oldid 1119995032, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
