wasting
WAY-sting
/ˈweɪstɪŋ/
A condition where a person is too thin for their height, usually as a result of recent and severe weight loss.
Wasting is a sign of acute (sudden) malnutrition, often caused by famine or severe disease.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'vastare,' meaning to leave desolate or empty. When the body 'wastes,' it is as if the person's physical substance is being laid waste or emptied out.
Word relationships
- atrophy: Atrophy refers specifically to the shrinking of a body part or organ, while wasting is a more general term for the whole body.
- hypertrophy: The enlargement of an organ or tissue from the increase in size of its cells (often used for muscles).
Commonly confused with
- stunting: Wasting is low weight-for-height (acute); stunting is low height-for-age (chronic).
Word family
- waste (verb): To become progressively weaker and thinner.
Collocations
- wasting disease
- muscle wasting
- acute wasting
- signs of wasting
Example sentences
- "The prevalence of wasting in the refugee camp reached emergency thresholds last month." Emergency aid report.
- "Tuberculosis is often called a 'wasting disease' because of the rapid weight loss it causes." Describing a disease.
Memory hook
Wasting = Weight. Wasting is when your Weight drops too fast. Wasting = Weight loss.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'wasting time.' In a medical context, it is a specific life-threatening condition.
Fun facts
- Wasting is also known as 'acute malnutrition' and is the most immediate threat to survival during a famine.
Related words
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