Methods of Anthropometry

 Methods of Anthropometry:

Anthropometry is the only science, which measures human body accurately and scientifically. Bodily features differ under different geographical situation and biological environment. Therefore, with the help of anthropometry the form and bodily features of various populations can be expressed quantitatively.

A number of instruments have been developed by anthropologists for taking accurate measurements on the living body and on the skeleton as well. It is necessary to know the limitation and functional efficiency of the instruments, which are specially designed for the purpose of anthropometry Special attention, is required for the system of graduation, which is usually graduated in centimeters and millimeters; sometimes further device of minute calculations is attached to it. The instruments are needed to be handled in a proper way with tender care and it would be better if these instruments are checked before using for taking measurements.

The exact position of the anatomical points or landmarks holds special importance in anthropometry. A few anatomical points are fixed points while others are to be located by trial measurements. First of all the landmarks should be identified on the skeletal parts of the body because they correlate to the definite point on the living body However, accurate identification of the landmarks, either on the living body or in the skeletal parts demands a thorough and continuous practice.. 

What are the methods of anthropometry?

The core elements of anthropometry are height, weight, head circumference, body mass index (BMI), body circumferences to assess for adiposity (waist, hip, and limbs), and skinfold thickness.

Weight

Weighing is usually the first step in anthropometric

assessment and a prerequisite for finding weight-for-height

z-score (WHZ) for children and BMI for adults. Weight

is strongly correlated with health status. Unintentional

weight loss can mean poor health and reduced ability to

fight infection. Weighing requires a functional weighing

scale that measures weight in kg to within the nearest

100 g. Accurate weight measurement is important because

errors can lead to incorrect classification of nutritional

status and the wrong care and treatment.

Low pre-pregnancy weight and inadequate weight gain

during pregnancy are the most significant predictors of

intrauterine growth retardation and low birth weight. To

reduce the risk of adverse outcomes, women should enter

pregnancy with a BMI in the normal weight category.

Length and height

Measuring length or height requires a height board or

measuring tape marked in centimeters (cm). Measure

length for children under 2 years of age or less than 87

cm long. Measure height for children 2 years and older

who are more than 87 cm tall and for adults.

Weight-for-height

WHZ is an index that is used to assess the nutritional

status of children from birth to 59 months of age. It

compares a child’s weight to the weight of a child of the

same length/height and sex in the WHO Child Growth

Standards to classify the child’s nutritional status. You

will need tables with the WHO Child Growth Standards.

There are separate WHO Child Growth Standards for

boys and girls. WHZ can be used for infants under 6

months, but there are no globally agreed cutoff points for

classification of nutritional status.

MUAC

MUAC is the circumference of the left upper arm

measured at the mid-point between the tip of the

shoulder and the tip of the elbow, using a measuring or

MUAC tape. MUAC measurements in millimeters (mm)

are more accurate than measurements in cm. MUAC is a

proxy measure of nutrient reserves in muscle and fat that

are unaffected by pregnancy and independent of height.

Use MUAC to measure all pregnant women and women

up to 6 months postpartum. MUAC is also an appropriate

alternative for measuring children (instead of WHZ),

adolescents (instead of BMI-for-age), and non-pregnant/

postpartum adults whose weight and height cannot be

measured (e.g., if they cannot stand or no equipment

is available). MUAC is not currently recommended for

infants under 6 months and should not be used to assess

nutritional status in people with edema....