Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 47 : Assessment of Nutritional Status

Anthropometry for children

• Accurate measurement of height and weight is essential. The results can then be used to evaluate the physical growth of the child



Height: The growth rate of children is influenced by the state of nutrition. The body length of an infant should be determined by making the child lie flat on a table fitted with length measuring device. Above 3 years the height may be determined as the child will be able to stand erect for correct measurement of the height.
Weight: Weight is the simplest measurement of growth and nutritional status. Weight for children can be expressed in terms of percentages in various percentiles of standards or as percentages of standard weight as suggested by Gomez (1957). The weighing machine used for measuring the weights of young children should be accurate and reliable.



• Growth monitoring in infants and children can be done by plotting the data on growth charts over a period of time that will help to calculate growth velocity, which can then be compared to standards.


• Gomez’s classification: Gomez (1957) suggested that low body weight could be used as an index of malnutrition in children, as follows:

(Actual weight/ Standard wt) 100

• >90% Std weight /age -Normal
• 90-75% Std weight/age –Grade I or Mild malnutrition
• 75-60% Std weight/age –Grade II or Moderate malnutrition
• <60% Std weight/age –Grade III or Severe malnutrition