What is the weight loss criterion for nonsevere malnutrition dx?

• A. 5% or more in 1 month
• B. 7.5% in 3 months
• C. 10% in 6 months
• D. 2% in 1 month

Answer: (A)

Unintentional weight loss is a key signal of undernutrition in adults, and clinicians use percent weight loss over a defined time frame to gauge severity. For nonsevere malnutrition, the threshold is a loss of five percent or more of usual body weight within one month. This relatively small but rapid change flags early nutritional compromise that still allows for effective, less intensive intervention before more severe wasting develops.

If weight loss is greater—about seven and a half percent over three months or ten percent over six months—these patterns indicate more substantial or prolonged undernutrition and point toward a more severe category requiring stronger nutrition support. To apply this, compare current weight to the person’s usual weight and calculate percent loss: (usual − current) / usual × 100. The five percent in one month criterion is used because it reliably identifies early malnutrition risk in older adults, where quick changes can occur with illness or reduced intake.