NS 210 Unit 6 SeminarAnthropometrics

Anthropometry

• Definition– The measurement of body size, weight and

proportions– Adherence to technique is critical to obtaining

accurate and precise measurements– Among children, length, stature, weight and head

circumference are the most sensitive and commonly used indicators

Body Weight

• Body Weight– One of the most important measurements in

nutrition assessment– Obtained using an electronic or balance beam

scale– Attention must be give to regular calibration

• Overweight is a body weight above some reference weight– Usually defined in relation to stature

Approaches to Assessing Body Weight

• Approaches to assessing body weight include:– Height-Weight tables– Relative weight– Height –Weight indices

• The life insurance industry, a leader in the development of height-weight tables, has attempted to define body weights for a given sex and statures that are associated with lowest mortality

Height Weight Table

HeightAcceptable Weight RangeIf aged 19-34

Acceptable Weight RangeIf aged 35+

5 feet 0" 97-128 pounds 108-138 pounds

5 feet 1" 101-132 111-143

5 feet 2" 104-137 115-148

5 feet 3" 107-141 119-152

5 feet 4" 111-146 122-157

5 feet 5" 114-150 126-162

5 feet 6" 118-155 130-167

5 feet 7" 121-160 134-172

5 feet 8" 125-164 138-178

5 feet 9" 129-169 142-183

5 feet 10" 132-174 146-188

5 feet 11" 136-179 151-194

6 feet 0" 140-184 155-199

Approaches to Assessing Body Weight

• Relative weight

• Quetelet’s Index (BMI) (kg/m2)

Obesity ChartARE YOU OVERWEIGHT?

BMI Chart

BMI Chart IndicatorsRisk of Associated Disease According to BMI and Waist Size

BMI

Waist less than or equal to

40 in. (men) or35 in. (women)

Waist greater than40 in. (men) or

35 in. (women)

18.5 or less Underweight -- N/A

18.5 - 24.9 Normal -- N/A

25.0 - 29.9 Overweight Increased High

30.0 - 34.9 Obese High Very High

35.0 - 39.9 Obese Very High Very High

40 or greater Extremely Obese Extremely High Extremely High

Case: John

• Age: 65, male• Height: 5’4’’ ( 1 foot = 12 inches)• Weight: 200 lbs

Calculate: relative weight• Hamwi equation• Height-weight table• BMI

HAMWI Equation

• HAMWI method• Males: 106 pounds for the 1st 60 inches + 6

pounds for each extra inch +/- 10% based on body frame (he has a medium body frame so we add 10%)

• 106 + (6x4) = 130 pounds• 130 + (130 x 10%) = 143 pounds

Ht/Wt Table and BMI

• Ht/Wt Table• Medium frame = 122-157• Midpoint of medium frame = 139.5 pounds

• BMI 22 = 130 pounds

• Relative weight = (200/143) X 100% = 139.8% (using HAMWI)

Relative Weight

• Relative weight = (200/143) X 100% = 139.8% (using HAMWI)

• Relative weight = (200/139.5) *100% = 143.4% (using Ht/Wt table)

• Relative weight = (200/130) * 100% = 153.8% (using BMI)

Body Fat and Body Composition

• The distribution of body fat may be as important or more important a consideration than the total quantity of fat– Classified into 2 types

• Upper body (Android)• Lower Body (Gynoid)

• Body composition analysis can provide estimates of the body’s reserves of fat, protein, water and several minerals

Types of Body Fat

• Visceral Fat– Organ fat or intra-abdominal fat– Located inside the peritoneal cavity, packed

between internal organs

• Subcutaneous Fat– Found underneath the skin – Can be measured using body fat calipers

Body Composition and Skinfold Measurements

• Measurement of skinfolds is the most widely used method of indirectly estimating percent body fat.

• Advantages– Inexpensive equipment– Portable equipment– Measurements obtained quickly– Measurements correlate with body density

Densitometry

• Archimedes principle• Measuring the density of the entire body

– Usually by hydrostatic (underwater) weighing– Hydrostatic weighing not practical for large groups– Requires

• Considerable subject cooperation• Special equipment • Experience• Financial Investment

Air Displacement Plethysmography

• Uses specially designed two-chambered unit for measuring the body’s volume– Then used to calculate body density and

composition• Advantages

– Better tolerated than underwater weighing– Requires less subject cooperation

• Disadvantages– Costly and complex equipment

Measuring Total Body Water

• Measure indirectly using dilution techniques where a tracer of known concentration and volume is given to a subject

• Time is allowed for the tracer to equilibrate with the subjects body water

• Concentration of the tracer is a sample of the subjects blood, urine, or saliva

Neutron Activation

• Useful in estimating total body muscle• Analysis is based on the response of elements

to neutron beam irradiation • Drawbacks of this method:

– Ionizing radiation exposure– High cost– Limited availability

Creatinine – 24 hour Urine• Measure of creatinine in a 24-hour urine

collection reflects total body muscle mass• Advantages

– Urinary creatinine correlates reasonably well with estimated derived from measurements of

• Body density• Total body nitrogen• Total body potassium

– Disadvantages• Dietary creatine, intraindiviudal variation and timing of

collection

Other Anthropemtric Tools

• 3-Methylhistidine• Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA) and total body

electrical conductivity (TOBEC)• Infrared Light• Ultrasound• Computed tomography• Magnetic resonance imaging

Thank You for Attending the Seminar and Happy Holidays!!