Table of assessment and classification of malnutrition in children 5-19 years old

The article was consulted with MSc Duong Van Sy - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

To assess the nutritional status of children aged 5-19 years old, scientists standardized the relationships between the indexes of height, weight, and age. This helps children to be accurately assessed for their nutritional status during health checks, thereby making appropriate adjustment measures.

Z-Score, also known as Standard Deviation (SD), is a measure of the distance between a child's values ​​and the population standard. The Z-score can be used in various fields wherever statistical measurement is required. However, for nutrition, we usually calculate Z - Score for weight for height, height for age and weight for age. All Z-Score measures of nutrition provide an answer to the question of whether the child is malnourished and the range of malnutrition (mild/moderate/severe).

2.1 Classification of malnutrition in girls 5-19 years old

According to the assessment table, when there is an index < -2SD is moderate malnutrition, < -3SD is severe malnutrition. For fetal malnutrition, only weight loss is mild malnutrition, a combination of weight and height loss is moderate malnutrition, and both weight, height and head circumference loss are severe malnutrition.
3.1 Assessment table of malnutrition in children 5-9 years old

3.2 Assessment table of malnutrition in children 10-19 years old

Malnutrition: People with a weight-for-age index < -2SD compared with the WHO-2006 standard population are called malnourished. This indicator represents a nutritional deficiency but does not assess whether the deficiency occurred over a specific time period. Nevertheless, it is still an easy-to-apply index and is often used as a standard indicator of community undernutrition in all nutrition surveys and for early detection of nutrient deficiencies. nutrition. Malnutrition is classified as follows:
Acute malnutrition: The height-for-age index is normal but the weight/height index < -2SD indicates that malnutrition has only occurred due to diet. not suitable for the energy needs of the body. Recovered chronic malnutrition: Height-for-age index < -2SD but normal weight/height indicates long-term, severe and early undernutrition but nutritional status has now recovered and needs to be cautious about the risk of obesity due to low height. Chronic progressive malnutrition: The height-for-age index < -2SD and weight/height is also < -2SD, indicating that malnutrition has occurred in the past and continues to progress to the present. Fetal malnutrition: Assessment of fetal malnutrition is based on weight < 2500 g, height < 48 cm and head circumference < 35 cm after birth. For children to be healthy and develop well, it is necessary to have a nutritious diet in terms of quantity and quality balance. If children are not provided with adequate and balanced nutrients, it will lead to diseases of excess or lack of nutrients, which adversely affect the comprehensive development of children in terms of physical, mental and motor skills.
Children who do not eat properly are at risk of micro-mineral deficiency causing anorexia, growth retardation, malabsorption,... If they notice the above signs, parents should supplement their children with products. The supplement contains lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to help fully meet the nutritional needs of children. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
Parents can learn more:
Signs of zinc deficiency in children
Micronutrient deficiency and failure to gain weight in children
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