ANTHROPOMETRY

Weight
Length or Height
Head circumference
Age dependent criteria for assessment of
nutritional status

Mid arm arm circumference

Quac stick
Thickness of subcutaneous fat
Body ratios

Weight for height

Proportional trunk and limb growth

Arm span
Obesity

Resolution of +\-100g

Zero reading obtained by

pressing tare knob

Convenient to carry. Balance hung

from hook and baby placed on the
sling attached to bottom hook

For neonates and infants weight

measurement is done easily by
health workers

Infantometer used upto

2yrs. At birth 50cm

infantometer

Head is snugly touching fixed vertical

plank,external auditory meatus and lower
margins of orbits perpendicular to table

Legs fully extended; feet vertical at

90degrees,movable pedal plank snugly
apposed against soles and length read nearest
0.1cm

Length measured by
infantometer

Older children stand against the wall bare feet

parallel and with
heels,buttocks,shoulders,occiput touching
wall.

Digital infantometer

infantometer+weighing
machine

Occipito-frontal head circumference measured

with stretchable fiber glass tape. Minimum 3
readings should be taken.

Tape should be encircled over most prominent

part of occiput and supraorbital frontal areas
and should overlap.

 Not before 1yr

Mid arm upper
circumference

Quac stick

Static between 1
to 5

For
malnourished
children
Meter rod

Thickness of
subcutaneous
fat

Herpendens
caliper used
Detects
malnutrition

conventional

15-17cm normal
Static for 1 to 5yrs

Bangle test

Internal diameter
4cm if passes above
elbow, 12.5cm i.e.
malnourished
Health worker

Shakir tape

Fiber glass tape red

yellow green
shading
Paramedical workers

Arm bent at right

angles, point is marked
midway between
acromion and
olecrenon process. The
child is asked to stand
or sit with the arm
hanging loose at the
side. Fiber or steel tape
is used. 3 readings are
taken. Less than
12.5cm severe
malnutrition,12.5-13.5
moderate to severe
malnutrition

Fiber glass tape

with red(less that
12.5cm),
yellow(12.513.5cm),
green(more that
13.5cm)

Meter rod with 2

sets of markings.
Developed on the
principle that acute
starvation severely
affects mid arm
circumference.

Measured with
herpendens caliper
over triceps and sub
capsular region. Skin
fold is picked with
thumb and index
finger and caliper is
applied beyond
pinch. 10mm-healthy
btw 1-6yrs. Less that
6mm-moderate to
severe malnutrition

Diagnosis of obesity

Less than 2 is preterm and

more than 2.5 in term

Proportional
trunk and limb
growth
Arm span

At birth 0.8 to 1.0

1.1 at 10 to 12yrs

Distance btw tips of middle finger

of both outstretched hands at rt
angles to body
Under 5-1-2cm smaller than body
length, 10-12yrs equal to height.

obesity

Weight for height greater that 2SD

or above 95th percentile obesity
Pathological like Cushing syndrome

Essential pediatrics by op ghai

Hutchisons clinical methods
Pediatric clinical methods by Meharban Singh