Introductory Concept to Anthropometric Assessment of Nutritional Status

According to Abidoye & Ihebuzor (2001), anthropometry has become a practical tool for evaluating the nutritional status of populations, particularly of children in developing countries and nutritional status is the best indicator of the global well-being of children. One of the major global health problem faced by the

developing countries, today is malnutrition. Of course, Nigeria too, is not an exception to this problem of malnutrition. The primary cause of ill-health and premature mortality among children, in developing countries is attributed to under-nutrition.

Ganong (2001) described anthropometry as the measurement of the human individual. The most basic of anthropometric measurements are weight and height. Anthropometric measurements are used to determine a human being’s nutritional and general health status. Measuring weight and height of infants and children is an international health practice that provides a readily accessible, inexpensive, objective method to ascertain the health history and health status of a child. A weight measurement along with a height measurement is a powerful tool; with this, a clinician has a direct record of the prior health status and dietary intake of a child and his/her future risk status for poor health. Weight and height measurements are essential in children in order to identify malnourished children, children at-risk of malnutrition and to evaluate the overall health status of children.

References

Abidoye, R. & Ihebuzor, N.(2001). Assessment of nutritional status using anthropometric methods on 1-4 year old children in an urban ghetto in Lagos, Nigeria. Nutritional Health Journal 2001, Vol. 15 pp. 29-39.

Ganong, W. (2001). Review of Medical Physiology, Lange Medical 2001, pp. 392-397