A recent and severe process that has produced a substantial weight loss, usually as a consequence of acute starvation and/or severe disease. Chronic dietary deficit or disease can also lead to wasting. The anthropometric index 'weight-for-height' reflects body weight relative to height. Thinness refers to low weight-for-height and may indicate normal variation or a deficit in weight. Wasting refers to thinness that is a deficit, defined as low weight-for-height, i.e., below 2 standard deviations (or 2 Z-scores) of the median value of the National Center for Health Statistics/World Health Organization International Growth Reference for weight-for-height. The statistically expected prevalence of wasting (as with underweight and stunting) is between 2-3%, given the normal distribution of wasting rates.
Loss of strength and weight.
any general reduction in vitality and strength of body and mind resulting from a debilitating chronic disease
a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse
Gradual loss (for example, of weight), deterioration, emaciation. As in a wasting disease. Excessive depletion. As in salt wasting, the excessive loss of salt. See the entire definition of Wasting