This document provides an overview of anthropometric measurements that will be taken as part of the NDIS-2021 survey. It discusses: 1. What anthropometry is and why we do anthropometric measurements - to assess nutritional status at both individual and population levels. 2. The importance of good quality measurements to get an accurate picture of nutritional status and allow comparisons over time. 3. The specific anthropometric measurements that will be taken - weight, length/height, mid-upper arm circumference, waist circumference, and calf circumference in different age groups. Equipment and standardized measurement techniques are outlined.

1. Learning outcomes
By the end of this session, you will know:
• What anthropometry is
• Why we do anthropometric measurements
• Why it is important to take good quality anthropometric
measurements
• Some steps that we can take to ensure good data quality
• Which measurements we will be taking for NDIS-2021, and what
equipment will be used.
Hands-on Anthropometry – Module 1 – Introduction to Anthropometry

2. Introduction to
Anthropometry
Anthropometry
Assessment Methods

3. What is anthropometry?
• Anthropometry is the science of measuring and interpreting the size
and proportions of the human body
• Includes
 Weight
 Length/height
 Circumferences – e.g. mid-upper arm (MUAC), calf, waist

4. A) Anthropometric
• Definition=it is the measurement of variation of physical dimensions
and gross composition of human body at different level and degree of
nutrition.
• It is used both in community and clinical setup

5. 1. Anthropometric Methods
 Anthropometry is the measurement of body height, weight & proportions.
 It is an essential component of clinical examination of infants, children & pregnant women.
 It is used to evaluate both under & over nutrition.
 The measured values reflects the current nutritional status & don’t differentiate between acute & chronic
changes .
Other anthropometric Measurements
 Mid-arm circumference
 Skin fold thickness
 Head circumference
 Head/chest ratio
 Hip/waist ratio
 Z- score of reference population
 percentile in reference distribution


6. Why do anthropometry?
• In individuals:
 Part of overall assessment of nutrition status – identifying undernutrition and
overnutrition
 Infants and young children: good indication of overall health
• In large-scale nutrition surveys:
 Describe overall population anthropometric status
 Explore relationships between anthropometry and other measured
parameters, e.g. diet
 Compare to previous surveys  monitor trends

7. Importance of good data quality
• Anthropometry is easy to do, but difficult to do well!
• Poor quality measurements can
 Give an inaccurate picture of the study population’s nutrition status
 Make it difficult to see relationships between anthropometry and other
parameters clearly, and
 Make it difficult to compare our results to other studies.

9. Ensuring good quality measurements
Equipment-related matters
Equipment must be
• Good quality
• Preferably new
• All the same make and model
• Verified daily
• Set up and used correctly
• Cared for properly
Technique-related matters
Measurements must be
• Taken according to the same
procedures every time
• Taken twice
• Taken by persons who
 are properly trained (i.e. attended the
training specific to this survey), and
 have been assessed to ensure that
they can take the measurements
reliably.
TWO IMPORTANT ASPECTS:

10. Anthropometric
Measurements in a
Large-scale
Nutrition Survey
The who, what and how

11. The anthropometry team
Anthropometry Planning
Team
Site 1
Lead anthropometrist /
coordinator
Team 1
Anthropometry field workers
- 1 Anthropometrist
- 1 Assistant
Team 2
Anthropometry field workers
- 1 Antropometrist
- 1 Assistant
etc...
Site 2
Lead anthropometrist /
coordinator
Team 1
Anthropometry field workers
- 1 Anthropometrist
- 1 Assistant
Team 2
Anthropometry field workers
- 1 Anthropometrist
- 1 Assistant
etc...
Site 3
Lead anthropometrist /
coordinator
Team 1
Anthropometry field workers
- 1 Anthropometrist
- 1 Assistant
Team 2
Anthropometry field workers
- 1 Anthropometrist
- 1 Assistant
etc...
etc...

12. What do we measure in whom?
• Dates of birth and assessment  to calculate age
• Weight: everyone
 Tared weighing for infants/toddlers 0-24 months
• Length/height: everyone
 Length (lying down): infants/toddlers 0-24 months
 Height (standing): everyone over 24 months
• Mid-upper-arm circumference: everyone 3 months and older
• Calf circumference: only adults 18 years +
• Waist circumference: secondary school learners (13 years +) and
adults
Note: the measurements taken may vary slightly depending on specific study protocols

13. 26
Nutrition indices and Variable
• Nutrition indices are a combination of measurements compared to a
reference.
• When 2 variables are used together and compared to a reference
value, it is called an Index (WFA, WFH & HFA).
• Variables
• Age
• Sex
• Weight
• Height

14. Anthropometric Indices
• Height and age (HFA) - measures for chronic malnutrition;
measurements which are low height-for-age indicate long-term
malnutrition, i.e. “stunting”.
• Weight and height (WFH) - measures for acute malnutrition;
measurements which are low weight-for-height indicate short-term
malnutrition, i.e. “wasting”.
• Weight and age (WFA) – Combine measure for chronic and acute
malnutrition; measurements which are low for WHA indicate
malnutrition.
14

15. 27
Indices

16. 28
Nutrition indicators
• Nutrition indicators are an interpretation of nutrition indices based on
cutoff points or reference limits
• A nutrition indicator is a tool to measure the clinical phenomena of
malnutrition
• A good indicator is one that detects, as much as possible, those at risk
(sensitivity) without including too many of those not at risk
(specificity).
• The indicators stunting, wasting, overweight and underweight

17. Anthropometric measurements
include:
1.Weight (including birth weight)
2.Height/length
3.Mid-upper arm circumference
4.Waist circumference
5.Knee height (a proxy for height)
6.Head circumference
7.Calf circumference

18. 01.Weight
• All participants
• Electronic platform scales
 Tare function used to weigh infants and
young children

19. Weight measurement procedure
 Place the scale on a flat surface.
 Remove extra clothing from child as much as possible
 Press the Weighing Scale to turn it on
 Ask Mother / Caretaker to stand on the scale without child
 Store weight of the mother by pressing store button
 Pass child to be weighed to the mother on scale
 The scale indicate the child’s weight
 Record child's to the nearest 0.1 gm
19

20. 02.Length/height
• Length (lying down) – children 0-24 months
 Using a rigid length board (infantometer)

21. Length/Height measurement procedure
 For increased accuracy & precision 2 people are needed
 Children aged ≥ 2 years are measured standing up and <2 years are
measured lying down
 If age is difficult to assess then children >87 cm are measured
standing and <87 cm are lying down
 It is important to
 Record child height to the nearest 0.1 cm
 A height stick or tape fixed on a wall/table can also be used to quickly
measure child height/length
21

22. Length/height
• Height (standing up) – all
participants older than 24
months
 Using a stadiometer
Hands-on Anthropometry – Module 1 – Introduction to Anthropometry

23. Hands cupped over ears; head against
base of board
1
Child Flat on Board
3
Hand on Knees or shins; legs
straight
4
Child’s feet flat against foot
piece
5
Arms comfortably straight
2
23

24. Length/height
• Some teams may have a length board and stadiometer
combined in one piece of equipment
 e.g. the ShorrBoardTM
Hands-on Anthropometry – Module 1 – Introduction to Anthropometry

25. 03.Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)
• Spring-wound measuring tape – used for
participants aged over 5 years
MUAC TAPE CHILDREN

26. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)
Procedure
 Explain the procedure to the child’s mother or
care giver
 Ask the mother to remove extra clothing that
may cover the child’s left arm
 Bend the left arm at 90 degrees to the body
 Place a measuring tape along the upper arm and
find the mid-point of the upper arm. The mid-
point is between the tip of the shoulder and the
elbow. Mark the mid point with a pen
 Straighten the child’s arm and wrap the tape
around the arm at midpoint.
 Inspect the tension of the tape on the child’s
arm.
 Record MUAC measurement to the nearest
0.1cm
Hands-on Anthropometry – Module 1 – Introduction to Anthropometry

27. 27

28. 04.Waist circumference
• Participants from secondary school onwards –
13 years and older
• Spring-wound measuring tape
Hands-on Anthropometry – Module 1 – Introduction to Anthropometry

29. Calf circumference
• Adult participants - 18 years and older
• Spring-wound measuring tape
Hands-on Anthropometry – Module 1 – Introduction to Anthropometry

30. Thank you
Questions and Discussion