Final answer:
Children are most vulnerable to the effects of undernutrition during childhood when their bodies require energy and nutrients for growth and development. Undernutrition can lead to wasting (dangerous thinness) and stunting (insufficient growth for age), as well as long-term consequences such as cognitive and motor deficits, weakened immune system, and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children are most vulnerable to the possible effects of undernutrition during childhood, when energy and nutrients are needed for normal growth and development. They are more likely than adults to become severely undernourished and to suffer permanent effects.
If children lack adequate energy and nutrients, they may become dangerously thin (wasting) or stop growing so they are too short for their age (stunting). The growth deficits caused by undernutrition can have long-term implications, including cognitive and motor deficits, immune system weakness, and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases.