Factors Causing Wasting in Toddlers: A Literature Review

International Journal of Current Science Research and Review ISSN: 2581-8341 Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2025 DOI: 10.47191/ijcsrr/V8-i11-25, Impact Factor: 8.048 IJCSRR @ 2025 www.ijcsrr.org 5685 *Corresponding Author: Dyah Surya Agustine Sesunan Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2025 Available at: www.ijcsrr.org Page No. 5685-5692 Factors Causing Wasting in Toddlers: A Literature Review Dyah Surya Agustine Sesunan1, Dian Isti Angraini2, Bayu Anggileo Pramesona3, Dyah Wulan Sumekar Rengganis Wardani4, Reni Zuraida5 1,2,3,4,5Master of Public Health Program, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Lampung, Jl. Prof. Dr. Ir. Sumantri Brojonegoro No.1, Gedong Meneng, Rajabasa, Bandar Lampung, Lampung 35145, Indonesia ABSTRACT: Background: Wasting is one of the acute nutritional problems in toddlers, reflecting a weight that is too low for their height. This condition can increase the risk of mortality and long-term developmental disorders. The prevalence of wasting in Indonesia in 2022 reached 7.7%, with Bandar Lampung City at 8.4%, exceeding the provincial average. Objective: This study aims to review research articles or journals on the factors causing wasting in toddlers. Methods: The method used in this study is a literature review sourced from the Google Scholar and PubMed databases within the period of 2020-2025. Literature selection was conducted based on inclusion and exclusion criteria determined by the researcher. This review stage includes identifying the research problem, searching for literature, presenting data, and evaluating the data. Results: Based on the literature review collected, the causes of wasting can be categorized into direct and indirect factors. Direct factors include inadequate food intake and infectious diseases like diarrhea. Indirect factors include exclusive breastfeeding, feeding practices, and access to healthcare services. The main underlying factors are poverty, family characteristics, food distribution patterns, the mother's education level, employment status, and household income level. Conclusion: Wasting in young children is caused by a complex interaction between direct, indirect, and primary factors. Prevention and management efforts for wasting must be designed comprehensively, considering all contributing factors, especially improved nutritional intake, management of infectious diseases, increased maternal knowledge, and improvement of family socioeconomic conditions. KEYWORDS: Acute malnutrition Causal factors, Malnutrition, Toddlers, Wasting. INTRODUCTION Wasting is a form of malnutrition that reflects a child's weight being too low for their height, characterized by a weightfor-height z-score of less than -2 SD for wasting and a weight-for-height z-score of less than -3 SD for severe wasting (Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, 2020). Wasting in children results from rapid weight loss or an inability to gain weight (UNICEF, WHO, The World Bank, 2019). This condition puts toddlers at risk of long-term growth retardation, decreased immune system function, increased severity and susceptibility to infectious diseases, and an increased risk of death, especially for toddlers with severe wasting. According to the WHO, the public health problem is classified as serious if it reaches 10.0% to 14.0% and critical if it exceeds 15% (JGMI, 2022). The incidence of wasting in Indonesia has shown a fluctuating trend recently, reaching 7.4% in 2019, 7.1% in 2021, and then rising to 7.7% in 2022 (Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, 2023). Although the incidence of wasting in Indonesia is decreasing, the wasting rate in Bandar Lampung City, according to the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey, stands at 8.4% and is feared to continue to increase annually (Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, 2023). The impact of wasting is grave for children's health and development. Wasted children, especially those with malnutrition, have weakened immune systems, making them susceptible to infectious diseases such as diarrhea, colds, and pneumonia (Ali et al., 2022). Furthermore, wasted children are at risk of impaired physical growth, including stunted growth, which can develop into stunting (De Onis & Blössner, 1997). Inadequate nutrition in wasted children also poses risks to optimal brain development, learning ability, and future work productivity (Galler et al., 2021). Of all forms of childhood nutritional problems, wasting, particularly severe malnutrition, carries the highest risk of death, nearly 12 times higher than that of well-nourished children (Caulfield et al., 2004). International Journal of Current Science Research and Review ISSN: 2581-8341 Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2025 DOI: 10.47191/ijcsrr/V8-i11-25, Impact Factor: 8.048 IJCSRR @ 2025 www.ijcsrr.org 5686 *Corresponding Author: Dyah Surya Agustine Sesunan Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2025 Available at: www.ijcsrr.org Page No. 5685-5692 UNICEF (1998) asserts that both direct and indirect factors influence nutritional status. Direct factors affecting nutritional status include food intake and infectious diseases. Indirect factors affecting nutritional status include access to food, child and maternal care, and sanitation or health services. The main causes of nutritional problems are poverty, lack of knowledge and skills, and behavior. Previous research has shown that factors such as family income, maternal education, maternal occupation, exclusive breastfeeding, and infectious diseases are significantly associated with wasting (Muse et al., 2025; Luzingu et al., 2022; Rahut et al., 2024). Based on this background, various complex and interacting factors contribute to wasting in toddlers. Therefore, researchers conducted a literature review to offer an in-depth analysis of the factors causing wasting in toddlers. Understanding these factors is expected to lead to appropriate policy recommendations and strategies for preventing and managing wasting in toddlers in Indonesia, particularly in Bandar Lampung City. METHODS This research is a literature review. Data sources were obtained from Google Scholar and PubMed databases for the 20202025 period. The search terms used in Google Scholar were "causes of wasting," "risk factors for wasting in toddlers," and "determinants of wasting." The PubMed database used keywords such as "determinants of wasting," "risk factors for wasting in children," and "causes of acute malnutrition." Literature selection was conducted by reviewing titles and abstracts and their relevance to the topic of "causes of wasting in toddlers." Articles were selected if they met the inclusion criteria: relevance to the topic of wasting, full-text availability, free of charge, using a quantitative cross-sectional or cohort design, and having toddlers aged 0-59 months as subjects. Exclusion criteria included literature reviews, articles related to the COVID-19 pandemic, studies with qualitative data, and articles with inaccessible content. The COVID-19 pandemic was excluded due to large-scale restrictions that limited patients' ability to provide feedback on healthcare services, as well as abnormal conditions in parenting patterns and food access. Qualitative research can yield different interpretations, particularly when using observation and interview methods, making it difficult to synthesize systematically. The selection of research articles based on searches of Google Scholar and PubMed databases involved several stages: article identification, screening based on title and abstract, assessing eligibility based on full text, and finally, inclusion of articles meeting the criteria in the literature review. This selection process adhered to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. RESULTS The literature search yielded several articles relevant to the causes of wasting in toddlers. These articles were then analyzed to identify causal factors that consistently emerged across various studies. The following tables present the results of the literature review. Literature Review Based on Research Characteristics Table 1. Literature review based on author, year, location, research design, and sample No First author, Year Country Research Design Sample Sampling Technique 1 Muse et al., 2025 Ethiopia Cross-sectional 384 children Simple random sampling 2 Mulu et al., 2021 Ethiopia Cross-sectional 385 children Systematic random sampling 3 Ali et al., 2022 Ethiopia Cross-sectional 754 children Simple random sampling 4 Murarkar et al., 2020 India Cross-sectional 3.671 toddlers Multistage sampling 5 Luzingu et al., 2022 Democratic Republic of the Congo Cross-sectional 3.911 children Cluster sampling 6 Zhang et al., 2022 China Cross-sectional 2.547 children Multistage sampling 7 Vijay et al., 2024 Nepal Cross-sectional 2.076 children Secondary data analysis 8 Nguedjo et al., 2024 Cameroon Cross-sectional 200 children Purposive sampling International Journal of Current Science Research and Review ISSN: 2581-8341 Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2025 DOI: 10.47191/ijcsrr/V8-i11-25, Impact Factor: 8.048 IJCSRR @ 2025 www.ijcsrr.org 5687 *Corresponding Author: Dyah Surya Agustine Sesunan Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2025 Available at: www.ijcsrr.org Page No. 5685-5692 No First author, Year Country Research Design Sample Sampling Technique 9 Islam et al., 2024 Pakistan Cross-sectional 29.887 children Multistage sampling 10 Rahut et al., 2024 South Asia & South East Asia Cross-sectional Demographics Health Survey Secondary data analysis Literature Review Based on Factors Causing Wasting Table 2. Literature review based on factors that cause wasting in toddlers Causative factor Authors (Year) Results p-value Direct Factors Inadequate food intake Zhang et al. (2022) Insufficient energy and protein intake increases the risk of wasting < 0,05 Ali et al. (2022) Snacking less than twice a day is associated with wasting 0,032 Infectious disease (diarrhea) Murarkar et al. (2020) Acute diarrhea is significantly associated with wasting < 0,001 Mulu et al. (2021) Illness in the last 2 weeks increases the risk of wasting 0,018 Islam et al. (2024) The prevalence of diarrhea is negatively related to growth < 0,01 Indirect Factors Exclusive breastfeeding Murarkar et al. (2020) Exclusive breastfeeding is significantly associated with preventing wasting < 0,001 Luzingu et al. (2022) Combining breast milk with drinking water increases the risk of wasting 0,024 Parenting feeding patterns Zhang et al. (2022) The right timing of giving supplementary food reduces the risk of wasting 0,015 Nguedjo et al. (2024) Limited food consumption increases the risk 0,008 Access to health services Muse et al. (2025) Lack of access to toilets is associated with wasting 0,003 Rahut et al. (2024) Unsafe drinking water increases the risk of malnutrition < 0,001 Main Factors Poverty/Family income Muse et al. (2025) Low family income is significantly associated with wasting 0,001 Vijay et al. (2024) Poor households < 0,05 Ali et al. (2022) Not having a vehicle is related to wasting 0,028 Mother's education Luzingu et al. (2022) Low maternal education increases the risk of wasting 0,012 Rahut et al. (2024) Maternal illiteracy is positively associated with malnutrition < 0,001 Zhang et al. (2022) High father's education reduces the risk of wasting 0,021 Mother's job Luzingu et al. (2022) Mothers working in the last 12 months increases the risk of wasting 0,036 Nguedjo et al. (2024) Low economic status increases the risk of wasting 0,015 Family characteristics Vijay et al. (2024) Having 3-4 children increases the risk of stunting and wasting < 0,05 Islam et al. (2024) High parity is negatively associated with growth < 0,01 Luzingu et al. (2022) Maternal age 35-49 years increases the risk of wasting 0,042 Environmental factors Rahut et al. (2024) Dirty cooking fuel increases the risk of wasting < 0,001 Islam et al. (2024) Increased temperature and rainfall are negatively associated with wasting < 0,01 International Journal of Current Science Research and Review ISSN: 2581-8341 Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2025 DOI: 10.47191/ijcsrr/V8-i11-25, Impact Factor: 8.048 IJCSRR @ 2025 www.ijcsrr.org 5688 *Corresponding Author: Dyah Surya Agustine Sesunan Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2025 Available at: www.ijcsrr.org Page No. 5685-5692 DISCUSSION 1. Direct Factors A. Food Intake Food intake is the most fundamental direct factor in wasting. Toddlers need to eat enough food, including energy and protein, while they are growing (Ali et al., 2022; Hall et al., 2020; Mohammed et al., 2019). Research by Zhang et al. (2022) shows that children with insufficient energy and protein intake are at higher risk of wasting compared to children with adequate intake. These results align with research by Ali et al (2022), which found that snacking less than twice daily is significantly associated with malnutrition in children. Nutritional deficiencies in early life impact later life. Malnutrition in toddlers not only impacts physical growth but also impacts the quality of intelligence and future development. Therefore, the role of nutritious foods is crucial, such as foods containing energy, protein (especially animal protein), vitamins such as vitamin B complex, vitamin C, and vitamin A, and minerals such as calcium, iron, iodine, phosphorus, and zinc. B. Infectious Diseases Infectious diseases are another direct factor contributing to wasting. Research by Murarkar et al. (2020) in India showed that acute diarrhea was significantly associated with wasting in toddlers. Similar findings were reported by Mulu et al. (2021) in Ethiopia, who found that children who were ill in the past two weeks increased the risk of wasting. Children in developing countries, especially in the first years of life, frequently suffer from infectious diseases. Infections contribute to deficiencies in energy, protein, and other nutrients by reducing appetite and thus reducing food intake. In fact, malnutrition and infectious diseases often occur simultaneously. Malnutrition can increase the risk of infection, while infection can cause malnutrition, leading to a vicious cycle of infectious malnutrition (Rahut et al., 2024; Wandji Nguedjo et al., 2024). Islam et al (2024), in their study in Pakistan, found that diarrhea prevalence was negatively associated with children's linear growth, with increasing diarrhea incidence associated with decreased growth and an increased risk of wasting. Diarrhea is a disease that is transmitted through water and is generally accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, which has an impact on children's growth. 2. Indirect Factors A. Exclusive Breastfeeding Exclusive breastfeeding is a protective factor against wasting. Research by Murarkar et al. (2020) showed that exclusive breastfeeding was significantly associated with wasting prevention in rural India. Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as breast milk given to infants from birth for six months without adding or replacing it with other foods or drinks (Indonesian Government Regulation Number 17 of 2023). Conversely, research by Luzingu et al. (2022) found that children who were breastfed and drank water had a higher risk of wasting. This demonstrates the importance of exclusive breastfeeding without additional fluids during the first six months of life. Research in Bangladesh also shows that exclusive breastfeeding until toddlers reach six months of age significantly contributes to improving children's nutritional status (Chowdhury et al., 2020). B. Feeding Parenting Patterns Feeding parenting patterns play a crucial role in preventing wasting. Research by Zhang et al. (2022) showed that appropriate timing of complementary feeding and separate preparation of complementary foods were significantly associated with a lower risk of malnutrition. Parenting patterns include the ways that mothers or caregivers think and act about feeding their children every day, such as breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and family meals. Nguedjo et al. (2024), in their study in Cameroon, found that limited maternal food consumption increased the risk of various malnutrition phenotypes, including wasting, in children. This suggests that food availability at the household level and food distribution patterns within the family also influence children's nutritional status. C. Access and Utilization of Health Services Access to health services and satisfactory sanitation are crucial factors in preventing wasting. Research by Muse et al. (2025) shows that lack of access to latrines is significantly associated with the incidence of acute malnutrition. Poor sanitation increases the risk of infectious diseases, especially diarrhea, which is a direct cause of wasting. Rahut et al. (2024) discovered in a multi-country study in South and Southeast Asia that unsafe drinking water and contaminated cooking fuels elevate the risk of malnutrition in children. These environmental factors are associated with exposure to pathogens and pollution, which can affect children's health and nutritional status. Adequate access to health services, including integrated health posts (Posyandu), community health centers (Puskesmas), and government nutrition programs, can facilitate early detection and treatment of wasting. International Journal of Current Science Research and Review ISSN: 2581-8341 Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2025 DOI: 10.47191/ijcsrr/V8-i11-25, Impact Factor: 8.048 IJCSRR @ 2025 www.ijcsrr.org 5689 *Corresponding Author: Dyah Surya Agustine Sesunan Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2025 Available at: www.ijcsrr.org Page No. 5685-5692 3. Main Factors A. Poverty and Family Income Poverty is a major underlying factor in various nutritional problems, including wasting. Muse et al.'s (2025) research identifies low average family income as a determinant of acute malnutrition. Poverty leads to limited access to food, health services, and education, all of which contribute to wasting. Vijay et al. (2024), in their study in Nepal, found that children from middleand wealthier households had a 49% and 47% lower risk of wasting compared to children from the poorest households, respectively. These results strengthen evidence that family socioeconomic status significantly influences children's nutritional status. Ali et al. (2022) also found that lacking a family vehicle, an indicator of poverty, was significantly associated with child malnutrition. Parents' ability to purchase nutritious food and access health services depends heavily on family income. B. Mother's Education Level Maternal education is a factor consistently associated with wasting in various studies. Luzingu et al. (2022) found that low maternal education increases the risk of wasting in children. The higher a person's education, the easier it is to understand information and implement this knowledge into behavior, particularly regarding health and nutrition. Rahut et al. (2024) reported that maternal illiteracy is positively associated with child malnutrition in South and Southeast Asia. Mothers with more education are more likely to listen to nutrition information and use what they learn to care for and feed their children. Zhang et al. (2022) also found that higher paternal education is associated with a lower risk of malnutrition, demonstrating the role of both parents in determining a child's nutritional status. Parental education influences childcare, as higher education helps parents understand the importance of their role in child development. Furthermore, a higher education is thought to enhance nutritional knowledge, enabling them to apply it to their feeding and childcare practices. C. Mother's Employment Status Maternal employment status has been shown to significantly influence wasting incidence. Luzingu et al. (2022) found that mothers who worked in the 12 months prior to the survey increased their child's risk of wasting. Working mothers may have less time to care for and monitor their child's nutritional intake. Nguedjo et al. (2024) also reported that low socioeconomic status, often associated with informal employment or unemployment, increases the risk of various malnutrition phenotypes. However, employment status must be viewed in a broader context, as employed mothers with sufficient incomes may be able to provide better nutrition despite limited caregiving time. A study in Pakistan by Siddiqa et al. (2023) found that the proportion of wasted children was higher among employed mothers than among unemployed mothers. This indicates the importance of balancing work and childcare, as well as the need for family and social support for working mothers. D. Family Characteristics Family characteristics, including the number of family members and birth order, influence the incidence of wasting. Vijay et al. (2024) found that the odds of stunting and wasting were 1.6 times higher in children with 3-4 siblings compared to children with 1-2 siblings. Islam et al. (2024), in their study in Pakistan, found that high maternal parity was negatively associated with children's linear growth and increased the prevalence of wasting. Families, especially those in extreme poverty, find it easier to meet their food needs if they have fewer children to feed. The food available for a large family may be sufficient for a family half that size, but it may not be enough to prevent malnutrition in that large family. Luzingu et al. (2022) also found that older maternal age, between 35 and 49, increases the risk of wasting in children. Maternal health conditions, high parity, and exhaustion from caring for children may contribute to this. Children growing up in poor families with large numbers of members are most vulnerable to malnutrition, and the youngest children are usually the most affected by food shortages. E. Environmental and Ecological Factors An often-overlooked environmental factor that has a significant impact is the physical and ecological conditions of the environment. In a geospatial study in South and Southeast Asia, Rahut et al. (2024) found that dirty cooking fuels like firewood and charcoal increase the risk of malnutrition in children. Exposure to indoor air pollution from the combustion of these fuels can affect children's respiratory health and increase the risk of infection. Islam et al. (2024) reported intriguing findings indicating a negative correlation between climate factors like increasing surface temperature and rainfall variability and children's linear growth. International Journal of Current Science Research and Review ISSN: 2581-8341 Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2025 DOI: 10.47191/ijcsrr/V8-i11-25, Impact Factor: 8.048 IJCSRR @ 2025 www.ijcsrr.org 5690 *Corresponding Author: Dyah Surya Agustine Sesunan Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2025 Available at: www.ijcsrr.org Page No. 5685-5692 Increasing temperature and erratic rainfall are associated with reduced growth and an increased prevalence of diarrhea, ultimately increasing the risk of wasting. These ecological factors suggest that climate change may pose a new threat to children's nutritional status, particularly in developing countries with limited adaptation to environmental changes. Household density is also an influential environmental factor. High-density housing increases the risk of infectious disease transmission between family members, which can worsen children's nutritional status. Poor environmental sanitation, limited access to clean water, and open defecation practices, as reported by Mulu et al. (2021), are factors related to wasting. F. Food Distribution Patterns in the Family Food distribution patterns within the family are an important aspect that is often overlooked in nutrition studies. In some societies, food is distributed according to a family hierarchy, with the father or head of the family receiving the primary portion, followed by sons, then daughters, and then young children. This patriarchal pattern can lead to malnutrition in certain groups within the family, particularly women and children. Unequal distribution patterns can result in young children not receiving sufficient nutritious food. As family size increases, food for each child decreases, and many parents fail to realize that very young children require relatively more food than older children. Consequently, young children may not be adequately fed. Appropriate food distribution among family members is crucial for achieving satisfactory nutrition. Food should be distributed to meet the nutritional needs of everyone in the family. Children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women should receive a substantial portion of protein-rich food. All family members, based on their individual needs, should receive sufficient energy, protein, and other nutrients each day to meet their needs. 4. Interaction between factors It is important to understand that the factors causing wasting do not operate in isolation but interact with each other in complex patterns. UNICEF's (1998) conceptual model explains how these factors are hierarchically related, with primary factors such as poverty and sociopolitical structure influencing primary factors such as education and family income, which in turn influence indirect factors such as access to food and health services, and ultimately impact direct factors such as dietary intake and infectious diseases. For example, poverty can lead to limited access to nutritious food, resulting in inadequate energy and protein intake. Poverty also limits access to sanitation and clean water, increasing the risk of infectious diseases. These two direct factors (inadequate intake and infections) then reinforce each other in a vicious cycle that worsens a child's nutritional status. Low maternal education, often associated with poverty, affects nutritional knowledge, feeding practices, and access to health services. Low-educated mothers may not understand the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, the appropriate timing of complementary feeding, or how to care for a sick child, all of which contribute to wasting. Maternal employment status also interacts with other factors. Working mothers with low incomes may lack the time and resources to provide nutritious food and optimal care. Meanwhile, unemployed mothers with low family incomes also face limited access to nutritious food. 5. Implications for Programs and Policies Being familiar with the factors causing wasting has important implications for the design of prevention and treatment programs and policies. Approaches that focus solely on one aspect, such as supplementary feeding, without considering other factors, are likely to be ineffective in the long term. Wasting prevention and treatment programs must be designed in a multisectoral manner, involving the health, agriculture, education, and socioeconomic sectors. Supplemental feeding programs should be accompanied by nutrition education for mothers, improvements in environmental sanitation, increased access to clean water, and poverty alleviation programs. Nutrition-specific interventions, such as promoting exclusive breastfeeding, providing timely and high-quality complementary foods, and managing infectious diseases, need to be strengthened. However, we also need to integrate nutrition-sensitive interventions that tackle root causes like poverty, education, and access to basic services. Routine nutritional monitoring and surveillance at the integrated health post (Posyandu) and community health center (Puskesmas) levels need to be improved for early detection of wasting cases. An effective referral system from Posyandu to Puskesmas and hospitals for severe wasting cases must also be strengthened. Empowering health cadres and increasing the capacity of health workers in wasting management are essential components of prevention programs. Strong political commitment and adequate budget allocation for nutrition programs are necessary at the policy level. Policies that support adequate maternity leave for working mothers, access to affordable health and nutrition services, and social security for low-income families can help reduce the risk factors for wasting. International Journal of Current Science Research and Review ISSN: 2581-8341 Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2025 DOI: 10.47191/ijcsrr/V8-i11-25, Impact Factor: 8.048 IJCSRR @ 2025 www.ijcsrr.org 5691 *Corresponding Author: Dyah Surya Agustine Sesunan Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2025 Available at: www.ijcsrr.org Page No. 5685-5692 6. Limitations of the Study This literature review has several limitations. First, the articles reviewed mostly originate from developing countries in Africa and Asia, with socioeconomic contexts that may differ from conditions in Indonesia, particularly Bandar Lampung City. Second, the majority of studies employed cross-sectional designs, which are inadequate for elucidating the causal relationship between causal factors and the incidence of wasting. Third, variations in operational definitions and measurement methods of risk factors between studies may affect the comparability of results. Fourth, this review did not conduct a systematic methodological quality assessment of the articles reviewed. Fifth, certain factors, such as food distribution patterns within families and local cultural aspects, have not been extensively studied in the reviewed literature; thus, understanding of these factors remains limited. CONCLUSION Based on the results of the literature review, it can be concluded that wasting in toddlers is caused by a complex interaction between various direct, indirect, and underlying factors. Direct causal factors include inadequate dietary intake, particularly energy and protein, and infectious diseases, particularly diarrhea. These two factors reinforce each other in a vicious cycle that worsens a child's nutritional status. Indirect factors include exclusive breastfeeding, parenting practices, and access to health services and environmental sanitation. Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life has been shown to be a protective factor against wasting, while inappropriate feeding practices and poor sanitation increase the risk. The main factors underlying wasting are poverty and low family income, low maternal education, maternal employment status, family characteristics such as number of children and parity, food distribution patterns within the family, and environmental and ecological factors, including exposure to pollution and climate change. Efforts to prevent and address wasting must be designed comprehensively and multisectorally, taking into account all causal factors. Nutrition-specific interventions need to be combined with nutrition-sensitive interventions that address root causes such as poverty, education, and access to basic services. An effective program requires strong political commitment, adequate budget allocation, and intersectoral coordination. 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Prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors among children aged 6-24 months under poverty alleviation policy in Shanxi province, China: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 2217. Cite this Article: Agustine Sesunan, D.S., Angraini, D.I., Pramesona, B.A., Rengganis Wardani, D.W.S., Zuraida, R. (2025). Factors Causing Wasting in Toddlers: A Literature Review. International Journal of Current Science Research and Review, 8(11), pp. 5685-5692. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47191/ijcsrr/V8-i11-25