Pediatric Nutrition in Practice

8 Puntis

Basic Anthropometry: Assessment of Body
Form

Accurate measurement and charting of weight
and height (‘length’ in children <85 cm, or un-
able to stand) is essential if malnutrition is to be
identified; clinical examination without charting
anthropometric measurements (‘eye-balling’)
has been shown to be very inaccurate [5]. For
premature infants up to 2 years of age, it is es-
sential to deduct the number of weeks born ear-
ly from actual (‘chronological’) age in order to
derive the ‘corrected’ age for plotting on growth
charts. Head circumference should be routinely
measured and plotted in children less than 2

years old. Measurements should be made as fol-

lows:

Weight:

• Weigh infants less than 2 years old naked


• Weigh older children only in light clothing
  ( fig. 1 )


• Use self-calibrating or regularly calibrated
  scales
  Length:


• If possible, use an infant measuring board,
  measuring mat (easily rolled and transported)
  or a measuring rod (www.gosh.nhs.uk/health-
  professionals/clinical-guidelines/height-mea-
  suring-a-child/#Rationale)


• Two people are required to use the measuring
  board: one person holds the head against the
  headboard while the other straightens the
  knees and holds the feet flat against the move-
  able footboard ( fig. 2 )
  Height:


• Use a stadiometer if possible ( fig. 3 ), a device
  for standing height measurement comprising
  a vertical scale with a sliding horizontal board
  or arm that is adjusted to rest on top of the
  head


• Remove the child’s shoes


• Ask the child to look straight ahead


• Ensure that the heels, buttocks and shoulder
  blades make contact with the wall

Fig. 1. Weigh older children only in light clothing using
regularly maintained and calibrated scales.

Fig. 2. An infant measuring board; two people are re-

quired for accurate determination of length.

Koletzko B, et al. (eds): Pediatric Nutrition in Practice. World Rev Nutr Diet. Basel, Karger, 2015, vol 113, pp 6–13

DOI: 10.1159/000360311