Document resource
Globally, an estimated 42.8 million children (6.6% prevalence) worldwide suffered from wasting at any given time in 2024, with severe cases accounting for 20% of deaths among children under 5 years old. 1 2 Ongoing crises—including armed conflicts, food price volatility, economic instability, climate change and aid funding cuts—are expected to intensify wasting-related deaths, as poverty and food insecurity deepen.3 4 As a result, preventing child wasting is more urgent than ever. However, there is limited empirical evidence on effective wasting prevention strategies and optimal targeting criteria. These evidence gaps make it challenging to reach the most vulnerable children and to prevent wasting with cost-effective interventions.5