Anthopometry

Anthropometry
Anthropometry
What is anthropometry?
Anthropometry is the measurement of

body parameters to indicate
nutritional status.
Anthropometry
Why is anthropometry important?
Anthropometry is the easiest way to

measure nutritional status.
Anthropometric measurements
 Height
 Weight
 Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)
 Demi-span or arm span
 Knee height
 Sitting height
 Skin fold thickness
 Head circumference
Anthropometric index
Combination of different measurements or

combination of a measurement with other data
 Weight-for-height
 Height-for-age
 Weight-for-age
 MUAC-for-height
 MUAC-for-age
 BMI-for-age
 Etc.
Building blocks of anthropometric
indices
Height/
Sex Age Weight
Length
1 2 3 4
Use of building blocks
Using this Using this

Height Weight
information information
we can find we can find
and out if the child and out if the child
is “stunted” or is “wasted” or
short for his thin for his
Age Height
age height
Which anthropometric index to use?
 Depends on target group

 Depends on what you want to measure
For children <5 years of age:

Nutritional problem Index
Chronic malnutrition (stunting) Height-for-age
Acute malnutrition (wasting) Weight-for-height
Any protein-energy malnutrition
Weight-for-age
(underweight)
Classification of malnutrition in
children
Protein-energy
Malnutrition
(Underweight)
Acute Chronic
(wasting) (stunting)
Marasmus Kwashiorkor
Acute and chronic protein-energy
malnutrition
 Acute  Chronic
What are the characteristics What are the characteristics

of acute malnutrition? of chronic malnutrition?
malnutrition
 Acute  Chronic
• Acute shortage of food • Chronic shortage of
nutrients or presence of
• Produces recent rapid multiple infections
weight loss
• Occurs over a long period
• Results in wasting • Results in stunting
• Is reversible • In kids > 2 years, may be
• Measured by weight-for- irreversible
height • Measured by height-for-
• Adults can become wasted age
• Is most important type in • Adults cannot become
emergencies stunted
• Is very common in stable
populations
malnutrition
Both type of malnutrition can have serious consequences.

Anthropometry in adults
 Body mass index (BMI)

 Is ratio of weight and height: Weight (kgs)
(Height [m]) 2
 Single cut-off points for all ages:

BMI Category of Nutritional Status
< 16.0 Severe Malnutrition
16.0 - 16.9 Moderate Malnutrition
17.0 - 18.4 Mild Malnutrition
18.5 – 24.9 Normal Nutrition Status
> 25 Overweight
Why is it important how well we
measure?
 Accurate data is needed to correctly classify

nutritional status of individuals
 Need correct classification of individuals to
measure nutritional status in populations
 We use population assessments to make
important program decisions
Measuring height (children
24 months or older)
1. Measure height for children 24 months and older if

they can stand unassisted.
2. Measure child without shoes and wearing light
clothing.
3. Remove hair accessories that interfere with
measurement.
4. Position child with feet flat and together on the base
of the board.
5. Heels, back of knees, buttocks, shoulder blades and
back of head touch back of board while child is
maintaining a normal stance. For some children this is
not possible and only the heels and buttocks will touch
the board.
6 Shoulders level and eyes looking straight ahead.
7. Headpiece firmly against top of the child’s head and
firmly against the board.
8. Read measurement to the nearest 0.1 cm.
Child Height
Correct positions for measuring height
Child height - assistant’s hand position
Left hand on knees; knees

together against board
Right hand on shins; heels

against back and base of
board
Feet flat, heels against board
Position of head
Problem?
Problem?
How to measure length
1. Measure length for children less 5. Assistant cups the ears to hold the
than 24 months of age. infant’s head so the infant is looking
upward and the crown of the head is
2. Measure infant without shoes and
against the headpiece.
wearing light underclothing or clean
diaper. 6. Bring knees together, extend both
legs and bring movable foot piece to rest
3. Remove hair accessories that
against heels.
interfere with measurement
7. Read measurement to the nearest 0.1
4. Lay child on his back in the center
cm.
of the measuring surface.
Correct positions for length measurement
Child flat on board
Position of head
90 o
Correct hand and head position
Child and assistant
positions
Problem?
Problem?
Feet flat, heels against board
TIP
Sometimes
tickling the
soles of the
baby’s feet
can cause
them to turn
up their toes
and you can
get the foot
piece flat
against the
feet
Correct position of feet and measurer
Problem?
Supervisor observing child length
procedure
How to use the UNISCALE - display and
switch window
Kg
SECA
Display Window Switch Window

Is where the weight Turns the scale on and makes the scale work
is shown in Kg and in different ways. When the window is
one tenth of a Kg covered up for a short time, the scale is
switched on or the way in which it works is
changed.
How to use the UNISCALE - using the
switch window
The best way to cover the switch window

is to use your foot:
Pass one foot close over the top of the

switch window from one side to the other.
DO NOT step on or touch the window. It is

not a push button switch.
How to use the UNISCALE
1. Put the scale on the floor. Choose the flattest,

most level surface you have. Do not stand on
the scale yet.
2. Look at the display window. It should be

blank. kg
3. Move your foot quickly across the switch.

The scale will switch on and you will see: 188.8
4. In 5 seconds, the scale will adjust itself to

zero. You are ready to weigh a person. 0.0
How to use the UNISCALE
5. Stand on the scale. Stand still. Make sure that

feet or clothes do not cover the switch window.
You should see:
1 . and then:
.1 and then:
1 .
6. The 1 will move back and forth from side to side to show you the scale is
working. Then you should see the weight in the display , for example:
58.3 kg
UNISCALE: weighing adults and children
who can stand on their own
1. Turn on the scale. 2. Ask the person 3. Ask the person

Move your foot across to step on the scale. to get off the scale.
switch window. Wait until the display Wait until the display
shows weight. shows 0.0 before
weighing the next
person.
UNISCALE: Weighing children
who are held by their mothers
Make sure her feet or

clothes do not cover the
switch window.
You will see the mother’s

weight in the display, for
example:
52.4
1. Turn on the 2. Ask the mother
scale. Move your to step on the scale by
foot across switch herself.
window. She can give her child to
you or another person to hold.
3. With the mother on the 4. Ask the mother to step off the
scale pass your foot slowly scale.
across the switch window. You should see:
Then wait a couple seconds.
0.0 --.-
5. Ask the mother to step 6. Ask the mother to step

back on the scale with her off the scale.
child. You should see:
You should see the child’s
weight.
5.4 --.-
7. Pass your foot across

the switch window
to reset the scale before
weighing the next
mother.
You should see:
0.0
Summary
 It is crucial to follow these procedures as closely

as possible to get accurate measurements of
children, women, and men.

Anthopometry

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Anthropometry

Anthropometry is the measurement of

Why is anthropometry important?

Anthropometry is the easiest way to

Combination of different measurements or

Using this Using this

 Depends on target group

For children <5 years of age:

What are the characteristics What are the characteristics

Both type of malnutrition can have serious consequences.

 Body mass index (BMI)

 Single cut-off points for all ages:

 Accurate data is needed to correctly classify

1. Measure height for children 24 months and older if

Left hand on knees; knees

Right hand on shins; heels

Display Window Switch Window

The best way to cover the switch window

Pass one foot close over the top of the

DO NOT step on or touch the window. It is

1. Put the scale on the floor. Choose the flattest,

2. Look at the display window. It should be

3. Move your foot quickly across the switch.

4. In 5 seconds, the scale will adjust itself to

5. Stand on the scale. Stand still. Make sure that

You should see:

1. Turn on the scale. 2. Ask the person 3. Ask the person

Make sure her feet or

You will see the mother’s

5. Ask the mother to step 6. Ask the mother to step

7. Pass your foot across

 It is crucial to follow these procedures as closely

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