At the end of this presentation students will be able to: Define Anthropometry Identify the uses of anthropometric tests List six anthropometric.

At the end of this presentation students will be able to:

Define Anthropometry

Identify the uses of anthropometric tests

List six anthropometric measurements

At the end of this presentation students will be able to:

Identify instruments used in anthropometry

Describe limitations of anthropometry

Refers to the measurement of the body

The science of measuring the human body as to height, weight, and size of component parts, including skinfold thickness, to study and compare the relative proportions under normal and abnormal conditions

(Retrieved from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/anthropometry)

Identify a person’s health risk, and ideal state› total body fat› intra-abdominal fat

Monitor changes in body composition› with disease› growth› development› age and maturation

Assess effectiveness of nutrition/exercise interventions› Applicable to the client’s physiological

status

Assists the Formulation of recommendations and prescriptions for both diet and exercise

Height or Length,

Weight,

Body Mass Index- (BMI)

Circumferences (waist, hip, head, arm, etc),

For anthropometry videos click here

CDC (2011)

Skinfolds (triceps, biceps, subscapular, suprailiac)

Skinfold thickness facilitates indirect measure of thickness of subcutaneous adipose tissue .

Calculated as weight in kg divided by height in meters squared (kg/ m2).

After calculating BMI nutritionists or nurses can use WHO guidelines to categorize weight

Classification BMI(kg/m2)

Principal cut-off points

Additional cut-off points

Underweight <18.50 <18.50

     Severe thinness <16.00 <16.00

     Moderate thinness 16.00 - 16.99 16.00 - 16.99

     Mild thinness 17.00 - 18.49 17.00 - 18.49

Normal range 18.50 - 24.9918.50 - 22.99

23.00 - 24.99

Overweight ≥25.00 ≥25.00

     Pre-obese 25.00 - 29.9925.00 - 27.49

27.50 - 29.99

     Obese ≥30.00 ≥30.00

          Obese class I 30.00 - 34.9930.00 - 32.49

32.50 - 34.99

          Obese class II 35.00 - 39.9935.00 - 37.49

37.50 - 39.99

          Obese class III ≥40.00 ≥40.00Source: Adapted from WHO, 1995, WHO, 2000 and WHO 2004.

Stadiometer- height Scale Tape measure Caliper Length board – children younger than 2

years

Skinfolds used to estimate kg fat or % of total body weight

single/multiple sites are used

Several factors influence the accuracy of this method: - › technician skill, › weight status, › disease status, › fluid status,› faulty/unstandardised equipment or

measurement protocols.

Skinfold Measurements - easy, inexpensive, accuracy can be problematic

Height-Weight Tables - easy, inexpensive, does not indicate amount of fat; inaccurate in very muscular people

Body Mass Index - easy, inexpensive, does not indicate amount of fat; inaccurate in very muscular people

Girth Measurements - easy, inexpensive

The results of anthropometric measurements may be flawed because of:-› Reproducibility- the ability of a tool to

produce the same result under similar circumstances

› To overcome challenges with reproducibility- tools may be calibrated.

Step 1. BMI Score 0= > 20 1= 18.5 -20.0 2=< 18.5Step 2. Unplanned weight loss score 0=<5% 1= 5-10% 2=>10%

Step 3. Acute disease score: 2 = none or negligible intake for >5

days

Step 4. Add the scores to calculate overall risk of malnutrition0 = low risk: routine clinical care1 = medium risk: observe2 or more= high risk: treat

If wt or ht cannot be established, use documented or recalled values.

If none of the values can be obtained: Use clinical impression (very thin, thin,

obese) and mid-upper arm circumference <23.5 cm (>32 cm = obese)

Wt change: clothes, jewelry loose-fitting =wt loss, or too tight=wt gain

History of decreased food intake, loss of appetite or dysphagia over 3-6 months

Underlying disease or psychosocial/physical disabilities likely to cause wt change

Acute disease with negligible intake

Anthropometry. (n.d.). In The Free Dictionary. Retrieved from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/anthropometry

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. (2011).Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/video/nhanes3_anthropometry/weight/weight.htm

BMI categories. (2005). World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/bmi/index.jsp?introPage=intro_3.html

Nelson, M., Beresford, S., Kearney, J. (2004). Nutritional Epidemiology. In M. Gibney, B. Margetts, J. Kearney, & L. Arab. Public Health Nutrition. (pp. 27-65). Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Company