UG Semester 6

BIOS DSE3: Stress Biology Practical

Study of Nutritional Assessment Parameters: Anthropometric measurements

Page 1:

Introduction: What is nutritional assessment and its significance

Nutritional assessment is defined as the systematic process of collecting and interpreting information in
order to make decisions about the nature and cause of nutrition-related health issues that affect an
individual. This assessment involves measuring body weight, height, blood pressure, heart rate, waist
circumference, muscle mass, bone density, and other factors that may affect how much food you need
to consume. The goal of nutrition assessment is to determine if your diet meets your nutrient
requirements, which are based on your age, gender, activity level, current medical conditions,
medications, and lifestyle choices. If your diet falls below these requirements, you can make any
required changes to improve your eating habits. 

Types of Nutritional Assessment

1. Anthropometric Nutritional Assessment 
Anthropometric measurements are noninvasive quantitative measurements of the body that provide
valuable assessments of the nutritional status of children and adults. Typically, it involves the
measurement of the size, weight, and proportions of the body. Anthropometric measurements are
commonly used in both the pediatric and adult population to evaluate the general health status,
nutritional adequacy, and the growth and developmental patterns. An important part of this type of
nutritional assessment is weighing the individual and calculating their body-mass index to know if they
fall within the optimal range. 
Common anthropometric measurements include:
● Body Mass Index
● Waist Circumference
● Height
● Weight
● Skinfold thickness
● Waist hip ratio
● Mid upper arm circumference (MUAC)

2. Biochemical Assessment
Biochemical assessment involves checking the level of nutrients in a person's blood, urine, or stool,
usually through a lab test.
3. Clinical Nutritional Assessment
Clinical assessment is the simplest and most practical method of ascertaining the nutritional well-being
of a patient. In this case, the physician examines specific areas of the patient's body to discover any
signs of deficiencies.
4. Dietary Assessment 
Dietary assessment is the process of collecting information about what a person eats and drinks over a
period of time. In other words, it is a record of the foods one eats in an attempt to calculate their
potential nutrient intake. During a dietary assessment, the health practitioner analyzes the energy,
nutrients, and other dietary constituents using food composition tables. The goal of dietary assessment
is to identify appropriate and actionable areas of change in the patient's diet and lifestyle and to improve
the overall wellbeing of the patient.

Page 2:
Determination of BMI
Introduction: Definition of BMI and its significance : As given in write-up on obesity

Method:

Results:

Sl.no Name of the Age (in years) Gender Height(m) Weight(kg) BMI
. subject

MEAN ** ** ** **

Hence, my BMI is ______, and I am _______ .

The mean BMI of my group is ___________ .

Page 3:

Determinationof Waist: hip ratio (WHR)

Introduction: The Waist-to-hip Ratio (WHR) looks at the proportion of fat stored in one’s body around
the waist and the hip. It is a simple but useful measure of fat distribution. The Waist Hip Ratio is
calculated by dividing one’s waist measurement by hip measurement. The formula is: WHR= waist
circumference / hip circumference. Ideally, women should have a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.8 or less,
whereas men should have a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.95 or less. 

Significance of WHR

BMI has traditionally been the chosen indicator by which to measure body size and composition, and to
diagnose underweight and overweight. However, alternative measures that reflect abdominal adiposity, 
such as waist circumference, waist hip ratio and waist- height ratio, have been suggested  as being 
superior to BMI in predicting CVD risk. This is based largely on the rationale that increased visceral
adipose tissue is associated with a range of metabolic abnormalities, including decreased glucose 
tolerance, reduced insulin sensitivity and adverse lipid profiles, which are risk factors for type 2 
diabetes  and CVD. Having an apple shape (carrying extra weight around the stomach) is riskier for
one’s health than having a pear shape (carrying extra weight around the hips or thighs). This is because
body shape and health risks are linked. If you have more weight around your waist you have a greater
risk of lifestyle related diseases such as heart disease and diabetes than those with weight around their
hips.

Method:

Waist circumference should be measured at the midpoint between the lower margin of the least
palpable rib and the top of the iliac crest, using a stretchresistant tape that provides a constant 100 g
tension.
Hip circumference should be measured around the widest portion of the buttocks, with the tape parallel 
to the floor. For both measurements, the subject should stand with feet close together, arms at the side a
nd body weight evenly distributed, and should wear little clothing. The subject should be relaxed, and 
the measurements should be taken at the end of a normal expiration. Each measurement should be
 repeated twice; if the measurements are within 1 cm of one another, theaverage should be calculated. 
If the difference between the two measurements exceeds 1 cm, the two measurements should be
repeated.   

Results:
Sl.no. Name of Age (in Gender Waist circumference Hip circumference W:H ratio
the subject years) (cm) (cm)

Hence, my Waist: hip ratio is ______ .

Page 4:

Determination of Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC)

Introduction:
Definition
An accurate way to measure fat-free mass is to measure the Mid Upper Arm Circumference
(MUAC). The MUAC is the circumference of the upper arm at the midway between the shoulder tip
and the elbow tip on the left arm. The mid-arm point is determined by measuring the distance from the
shoulder tip to the elbow and dividing it by two. A low reading indicates a loss of muscle mass.

Significance of MUAC
MUAC is a good screening tool in determining the risk of mortality among children, and people living
with HIV/AIDS. MUAC is the only anthropometric measure for assessing nutritional status among
pregnant women. It is also very simple for use in screening a large number of people, especially during
community level screening for community-based nutrition interventions or during emergency
situations. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) can help to define the severity of malnutrition.

Method:
Results:
Sl.no. Name of the Age (in years) Gender MUAC
subject

Hence, my MUAC is ______.