A very common pattern of growth in poor communities throughout the world is normal weight gain for the first 6 months while the infant is being breastfed. Then, between 6 months and a year, there is faltering of both weight and length as the child receives inadequate food. By a year the child is stunted, with a weight and length below the 3rd centile. After a year, the weight may slowly increase to slightly above the 3rd centile but height remains below the 3rd centile. This pattern of low weight and height often continues into adulthood and reflects chronic malnutrition.