1. Anthropometry

2. Anthropometry What is anthropometry?
Anthropometry is the measurement of body parameters to indicate nutritional status.

3. Anthropometry Why is anthropometry important?
Anthropometry is the easiest way to measure nutritional status.

4. Anthropometric measurements
Height
Weight
Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)
Demi-span or arm span
Knee height
Sitting height
Skin fold thickness
Head circumference

5. 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.

6. Building blocks of anthropometric indices
Sex
Age
Height/
Length
Weight 1 2 3 4

7. Use of building blocks
Height
Using this information we can find out if the child is “stunted” or short for his age
Weight
Using this information we can find out if the child is “wasted” or thin for his height
and
and
Age
Height

8. 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 (underweight)
Weight-for-age

9. Classification of malnutrition in children
Protein-energy
Malnutrition
(Underweight)
Acute
(wasting)
Chronic
(stunting)
Marasmus
Kwashiorkor

10. Acute and chronic protein-energy malnutrition
What are the characteristics of acute malnutrition?
Chronic
What are the characteristics of chronic malnutrition?

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

12. Acute and chronic protein-energy malnutrition
Both type of malnutrition can have serious consequences.

13. 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
Moderate Malnutrition
Mild Malnutrition
18.5 – 24.9
Normal Nutrition Status
> 25
Overweight

14. 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

15. 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.

16. Child Height

17. Correct positions for measuring height

18. 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

19. Feet flat, heels against board

20. Position of head

21. Problem?

22. Problem?

23. How to measure length
1. Measure length for children less than 24 months of age.
2. Measure infant without shoes and wearing light underclothing or clean diaper.
3. Remove hair accessories that interfere with measurement
4. Lay child on his back in the center of the measuring surface.
5. Assistant cups the ears to hold the infant’s head so the infant is looking upward and the crown of the head is against the headpiece.
6. Bring knees together, extend both legs and bring movable foot piece to rest against heels.
7. Read measurement to the nearest 0.1 cm.

24. Correct positions for length measurement

25. Child flat on board

26. Position of head
90o

27. Correct hand and head position

28. Child and assistant positions

29. Problem?

30. Problem?

31. 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

32. Correct position of feet and measurer

33. Problem?

34. Supervisor observing child length procedure

35. How to use the UNISCALE - display and switch windowKg
SECA
Switch Window
Turns the scale on and makes the scale work
in different ways. When the window is covered up for a short time, the scale is switched on or the way in which it works is changed.
Display Window
Is where the weight
is shown in Kg and
one tenth of a Kg

36. 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.

37. How to use the UNISCALE 188.8 0.0 kg
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

38. How to use the UNISCALE 1 . .1 1 . 58.3 kg
5. Stand on the scale. Stand still. Make sure that feet or clothes do not cover the switch window.
You should see:
and then: .1
and then:
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

39. UNISCALE: weighing adults and children who can stand on their own
1. Turn on the scale.
Move your foot across
switch window.
2. Ask the person
to step on the scale.
Wait until the display
shows weight.
3. Ask the person
to get off the scale.
Wait until the display
shows 0.0 before
weighing the next
person.

40. 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 scale. Move your foot across switch window.
2. Ask the mother
to step on the scale by
herself.
She can give her child to
you or another person to hold.

41. UNISCALE: Weighing children who are held by their mothers
3. With the mother on the scale pass your foot slowly across the switch window.
Then wait a couple seconds.
4. Ask the mother to step off the scale.
You should see:
0.0
--.-

42. UNISCALE: Weighing children who are held by their mothers
5. Ask the mother to step
back on the scale with her
child.
You should see the child’s
weight.
6. Ask the mother to step
off the scale.
You should see:
5.4
--.-

43. UNISCALE: Weighing children who are held by their mothers
7. Pass your foot across the switch window
to reset the scale before weighing the next mother.
You should see:
0.0

44. Summary
It is crucial to follow these procedures as closely as possible to get accurate measurements of children, women, and men.