The evolution of estimates for deaths caused by childhood under weight is because of improvements in assessment of the population at risk. These improvements come from systematic analysis of the available data on underweight, a major modification of RRs after the change in the WHO standard in 2006, and differences in estimates of total and cause-specific mortality. We have also assessed the burden attributable to childhood wasting and childhood stunting. These analyses produce quite similar findings, for example, worldwide, childhood wasting accounted for 0·7 million deaths in 2010, and childhood stunting for 0·9 million deaths, compared with 0·9 million deaths for childhood under weight (the effects of these risks cannot be added).
