Height

&
Weight
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 Learning Outcomes
1. Define height and weight.
2. Identify the different types of height and
weighing scale.
3. State the purpose of assessing the
height and weight.
4. Demonstrate the procedure of taking
height and weight.

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 DEFINITION
Height
• The measurement of how tall a person or
thing is.

Weight
• A unit or a system of unit by which the
weight is measured.

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EQUIPMENT

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 PURPOSES OF TAKING
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT

• Provides general measure of health.

• Provides some idea of a person’s self image.
• Provides clue for an actual or potential
problem.
• Provides assessment of growth,
development and nutritional status.

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MEASUREMENT OF HEIGHT
• With a measuring
stick attached to a
weighing scale or to
a wall.
• Inform the client to
remove the cap and
shoes.

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 MEASUREMENT OF HEIGHT
• Instruct the client to
stand erect with heels
together, buttock and
head against the wall
and look straight ahead.
• Place a ruler resting on
the client’s head.
• Read measurement at
eye level.
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MEASUREMENT OF HEIGHT

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MEASUREMENT OF WEIGHT
• Measured when client is
admitted and regularly
every morning before
breakfast.
• With a digital, platform or
standing scale.
• Instruct client to remove
shoes and stand on the
platform.

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 MEASUREMENT OF WEIGHT
• The weight is read from the display panel.

DISPLAY PANEL

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 MEASUREMENT OF WEIGHT
BALANCE BEAM SCALE / PHYSICIAN SCALE
• Slide the lower bigger rider to the groove below the
client’s estimated weight.
• Slide the upper rider until the beam balances.
• Add both figures to determine the weight.

UPPER RIDER

LOWER RIDER
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 MEASUREMENT OF WEIGHT
• Weight also will be able to be taken while sitting or
on the bed.

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•
Record

• height & weight

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 Body Mass Standards
• Maintaining a healthy or ideal weight requires a
balance between the expenditure of energy and
the intake of nutrients.
• Many health professionals consider the body mass
index to be a more reliable indicator of a person’
healthy weight.
• For people older than 18 years, the body mass
index (BMI) is an indicator of changes in body fat
stores and whether a person’s weight is
appropriate for height, and may provide a useful
estimate of malnutrition.
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 Body Mass Standards
• For people older than 18 years, the body mass
index (BMI) is:
- an indicator of changes in body fat stores and
whether a person’s weight is appropriate for
height,
- and may provide a useful estimate of
malnutrition.

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 Calculation of BMI:
• To calculate the BMI:
• 1.measure the person’s height in meters
(e.g.1.5m)
• 2.Measure the weight in kilograms. (E.g.60 kg)
(1 kg = 2.2 pounds)
• 3.Calculate the BMI using the following
formula.

NIETA
 Calculation of BMI:
Weight in kilograms
BMI = ------------------------------
(Height in meters) ²

60 kilograms
= --------------------------- = 26.6
1.5 x 1.5 (meters)

• Refer chart - provides an interpretation of the

results.

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 Nursing responsibilities
Pre performance phase
1. Assess patient general conditions , level of consciousness
and ability.
® As a baseline data to provide sufficient assistant in
taking weight and height.

2. Provide privacy
® to maintain patient self esteem.

3. Explain the purposes and instructions

® To gain cooperation from client.

4. Prepare the requirement sufficiently.

® to ensure accurate reading.
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Performance phase
5. Assist patient to take off the shoe and remove other
things that may affect the accuracy in measurement eg;
coins, keys etc.
® To ensure accurate reading for weight.

6. Assist patient will stand straight and erect , with heels

together , buttock and head against the wall.
® To ensure accurate reading for height.

7. Instruct the patient’s eyes looking straight and place a small

flat object such as ruler
® To ensure accurate reading for height following correct
anatomical position.

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Performance phase
8. Read the measurement on the measurement scale
at eye level (bend down if using a bathroom scale )
® To ensure accuracy in reading.

9. Instruct the patient to stand still while taking the

reading.
® To ensure accuracy in reading.

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Post performance phase
10. Instruct the patients to get down from the scale slowly
and wear their shoe.
® To provide comfort

11. Explain the reading to the patient

® To provide information .

12. Inform the doctor on the findings

® For further action.

13. Document the findings in nursing assessment form

® For a reference and comparison in assessment.
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