Weight-for-age z-score is not an admission criterion to therapeutic feeding programs & children with low WAZ at high risk of mortality may not be admitted.

This analysis of RCT data assessed response to treatment according to WAZ and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and type of feeding protocol given: a simplified, combined protocol for severe and moderate acute malnutrition (SAM and MAM) vs. standard care that treats SAM and MAM separately. Children with moderately low MUAC and a severely low WAZ respond similarly to treatment in terms of weight and MUAC gain on either 500 kcal/day of therapeutic or supplementary food.