Name: Phan Le Dan Yen Clinical Nutrition Laboratory

ID: BTBCIU14055

Prelab: EXPERIMENT 1
ANTHROPOMETRIC ASSESSMENT
Due date: 14/4/2018

Question: What is purpose of each anthropometric technique?

Anthropometric technique consists of some technique as weight, height, waist circumference, waist
to hip ratio and mid-upper arm circumference
1. Measure the weight and the height
Measure weight and height accuracy is a significant method for monitoring an infant or
child's health. They are also important when tracking a child's growth.

Moreover, it can be used to calculate the body mass index (BMI) a measure of healthy
versus unhealthy weight.

𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡( 𝑘𝑔)
The formula: BMI =
𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 ( 𝑚2 )

2. Measure the waist circumference (WC)

Definition: Waist circumference should be measured at a level midway between the
lower rib margin and iliac crest with the tape all around the body in horizontal position.

Purpose: Waist circumference (WC) is an indicator of health risk associated with excess fat
around the waist.
This method can be used to help screen for possible health risks that come with overweight
and obesity.

If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you’re at a higher risk for
heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

The range of waist circumference

Where level 1: maximum acceptable waist circumference, no further weight gain

level 2: denotes obesity and require reduce weight to reduce the risk of type 2
diabetes

3. Measure waist to hip ratio (WHR)

Definition:
Hip circumference is measured at the point of greatest circumference around hip and
buttocks.
𝑊𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑡( 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡)
The formula: Ratio =
𝐻𝑖𝑝 ( 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 )
Purpose: this method to identify the ratio of the waist circumference with the hip
circumference. It is related to the risk of coronary heart disease. Moreover, it is a good
indicator of the pattern of distribution subcutaneous adipose tissues. It indicates the
prevalence of visceral fat, the dangerous internal fat which coats the organs
It is more fat in the abdominal area increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The range of waist to hip ratio:

High risk WHR at the range for the females > 0.80
for the male > 0.95
WHR ratio below these cut-off level is considered low risk
4. Measure mid- upper arm circumference (MUC)
Definition: MUC is the circumference of the left upper arm measured at the mid- point
between the tip of the shoulder and the tip elbow.
Purpose:
- It is used for assessment of nutritional status when height and weight are not possible to
measure.
- A key indicator of the nutritional status of children
- It reduced substantially in the undernourished and substantially increased in children
who are overweight
- The MUAC measure is a long strip with a series of color bands. provides a number and
indicates the color range.
Green: >135mm (normal)
Yellow: 125-134mm (risk of malnutrition)
Orange: 110-124mm (moderate malnutrition)
Red: <110mm (severe malnutrition and threat of death)
- Screening for malnutrition: detect children with nutritional problems early on as
malnutrition is a major cause of mortality among children.