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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