Nutritional Assessment of a Community Dr. Hamda Qotba, B.Med.Sc, M.D, ABCM

Terminology you have to know Nutrition: Process by which living organism receives material and uses them to promote it’s vital activities Nutrient: Any substance which is digested and absorbed to promote body function

Diet: Selection of food which is normally eaten by person or population Food: Substance when eaten , digested, absorbed provide at least one nutrient Balanced diet : Diet that provide adequate amount of all nutrients

Nutritional assessment: Malnutrition: Caused by incorrect amount of nutrient intake Nutritional status: Health status that produced by balanced between requirements and intake Nutritional assessment: Measurement of nutritional status by anthropometrics , biochemical data, dietary history

A) Collect anthropometrics measurements B) Look at biochemical data C) Conduct physical examination to detect the clinical signs of nutritional status D) Obtain a dietary history To assess the nutritional status use the ABCD system

Anthropometrics Height Weight Skin fold thickness (triceps, biceps, below scapula, above iliac, and upper thigh) Circumference (head, mid upper arm, waist, calf, and hip)

Physical growth Weight for age Height for age Weight for height BMI Malnutrition (Gomez) Height for age Stunting (waterlow) Weight for height Wasting BMI Obesity

Weight for age Malnutrition (Gomez) W/A= W/W(N) x 100 90-110 = Normal 75-89 = 1st, Mild 60-74 = 2nd , Moderate <60 = 3rd, Severe

Height for age Stunting H/A=H/H(N) x 100 < -2 SD = Stunted, Wasted > 95 = Normal 87.5-95= Mild 80-87.5= Moderate < 80 = Severe

Weight for height Wasting W/H= W/W(at same H) x 100 < -2 SD = Stunted, Wasted > 90 = Normal 80-90 = Mild 70-80 = Moderate < 70 = Severe

Body Mass Index (BMI) BMI= W(kg)/ H(m)² < 15= Underweight 15-85= Normal > 85= Overweight > 95= Obese