Anthropometric measurements in adults:

Following anthropometric measurements are commonly employed for the assessment of nutritional status in adults

Anthropometric measurements are a series of quantitative measurements of the muscle, bone, and adipose tissue used to assess the composition of the human body. These measurements are important in various fields such as medicine, sports, and forensics.

• Height
• Weight
• Waist circumference
• Hip circumference
• Mid upper arm circumference
• Skin fold thickness

HEIGHT:

“Measure of vertical distance from highest point of the subject’s head to the sole of the feet”. It is one such measure that give us an estimate about the nutritional status as is helpful in the body mass index BMI and stunting.

Procedure:

Direct the subject to remove clothing that would hinder the measurement.

Ensure that the subject’s feet are placed flat on the base plate of the stadiometer which is placed or a floor that is not carpeted.

Legs should be straight, against the flat surface such as wall.

Ask the subject to look straight parallel to his eyes.

Make sure that the shoulders are levelled, hands are at side while the head, shoulders blades, buttocks are against the measuring device.

Movable block should be gently pushed so that it touches the mid-crown of subject’s head.

Take an average of three readings. Round off the measured values to the nearest 0.1cm.

WEIGHT:

It is used for the calculation of BMI and wasting.

Procedure:

Ask the subject to remove accessories that would hinder the measurement.

Subject should stand in the center of scale so that the weight of the subject is uniformly distributed on both feet.

Record the weight to the near 0.1kg and take an average of three readings.

WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE:

It measures the narrowest part of the trunk and it is necessary for the calculation of waist to hip ratio. It is helpful in risk assessment of certain lifestyle related diseases.

Procedure for WC measurement in males

Stand erect and still and wear light clothing.

A measuring tape is placed around middle, just above the hip bone.

Ensure that the tape does not twist and is horizontal around the waist of subject.

The tape must not compress the skin, just keep the tape around the subject’s waist.

Measurements are carried out immediately after the subject exhales.

Take an average of three readings. Read the measurement to the nearest of 0.1cm.

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