International Clinical Nutrition Section Forum: In the GLIMlight: Making Malnutrition Visible with ICD-11

The publication of the GLIM criteria established a unified global language for the diagnosis of malnutrition, establishing phenotypic and etiologic criteria. Its recent 5-year update confirms its widespread adoption, marking a significant step toward homogenizing the determination of malnutrition in adults worldwide.
Building on the success of GLIM, the ICD-11 was revised to include a unique code for Undernutrition in Adults (5B72), directly based on GLIM standards. This is a game-changing situation; without a specific code, malnutrition often remains invisible in administrative data. Formal recognition is necessary for validating clinical care, allowing proper data tracking, and supporting reimbursement.
But translating these guidelines into clinical practice requires adaptation, particularly regarding body composition assessment. Clinicians face diverse realities, ranging from resource-limited settings as well as complex clinical phenotypes, like sarcopenic obesity or fluid overload, where standard measurements need careful interpretation.
This ICNS Forum plans to explore these practical nuances. Rather than proposing a solution, the session will discuss how the GLIM framework can be effectively incorporated into different clinical contexts. The goal is to illustrate feasible strategies for applying these criteria, demonstrating that accurate diagnosis is achievable across varying healthcare realities.
The session will open with a keynote on the strategic importance of the new ICD-11 code and its global impact. Following this, three international experts will share their clinical experiences, discussing how they assess body composition and apply GLIM within their specific patient populations, bridging the gap between international standards into bedside practice.