3
Table 1. Comparing Various Definitions of Malnutrition
Characteristics
American Society
for Parenteral and
Enteral Nutrition
(ASPEN)/Academy
of Nutrition and
Dietetics
European
Society
for Clinical
Nutrition and
Metabolism
(ESPEN)
Global
Leadership
Initiative on
Malnutrition
(GLIM)
Unintended
Weight Loss
×
×
Low body mass
index
× ×
Loss of muscle mass
× ×
Loss of
subcutaneous fat
× ×
Localized or
generalized fluid
accumulation
×
Decreased
functional status
×
Reduced
food intake or
assimilation
× ×
Disease burden/
inflammation
×
At risk per
validated screening
tool
×
Determination of
malnutrition status
Two characteristics
must be present
Screening tool
confirmation +
one of the other
two present
One phenotypic
and one etiologic
characteristic must
be present
