DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND CONSUMER STUDIES

FEM 3202: NUTRITION, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

LAB 8: ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS

Introduction:
The anthropometric measurements are a physical examination such as body weight,
height, body diameter and body fat percentage. For each measurement, it will provide
the information of the individuals growth and development. The anthropometric
measurement will show whether the person is underweight, normal weight, overweight
and obesity.
Objectives:
1.

To determine the Body Mass Index (BMI).

2.

To determine the Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR).

3.

To determine the body fat percentage.

Methodology:
A. BODY MASS INDEX
1. Measure your body weight in kilogram (kg) and your height in meter (m).
2. Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) by using the BMI formula. The measurements
for the weight and height were used to calculate BMI, using the formula given
below:
Body Mass Index = Weight (kg)
Height (m2)
3. Compare your results with classification of the BMI for adults (World Health
Organization, 1997) in Table 1.

Table 1: The International Classification of adult underweight, overweight and

obesity according to BMI
Classification
Underweight
Severe thinness
Moderate thinness
Mild thinness
Normal range
Overweight
Pre-obese
Obese
Obese class I
Obese class II
Obese class III

BMI(kg/m2)
Principal cutoff points
Additional cutoff points
<18.50
<18.50
<16.00
<16.00
16.00 - 16.99
16.00 - 16.99
17.00 - 18.49
17.00 - 18.49
18.50 - 22.99
18.50 - 24.99
23.00 - 24.99
25.00
25.00
25.00 - 27.49
25.00 - 29.99
27.50 - 29.99
30.00
30.00
30.00 - 32.49
30.00 - 34.99
32.50 - 34.99
35.00 - 37.49
35.00 - 39.99
37.50 - 39.99
40.00
40.00

Source: Adapted from WHO, 1995, WHO, 2000 and WHO 2004.
B. WAIST-HIP RATIO
1. Measure the slimmest part of your waist in centimeters (cm) or inches.
2. Measure the most width part of your hip in centimeter (cm) or inches.
3. Find out the WHR by dividing your waist measurement with your hip measurement.
4. Compare your WHR with Table 2.
*

Use the same measurement unit for both waist and hip
(e.g. inches/inches @ cm/cm)

Table 2: World Health Organization cutoff points and risk of metabolic

complications
Indicator
Cut-off points
Risk of metabolic
complications
Waist circumference

>94 cm (M); >80 cm (W)

Increased

Waist circumference

>102 cm (M); >88 cm (W)

Substantially increased

0.90 cm (M); 0.85 cm (W)

Substantially increased

Waisthip ratio
M, men; W, women

(Adopted from World Health Organization, 2000)

Table 3: International Diabetes Federation criteria for ethnic or country-specific

values for waist circumference
Country or ethnic group
Sex
Waist circumference
(cm)
Europid

Men
Women

>94
>80

South Asian

Men
Women

>90
>80

Chinese

Men
Women

>90
>80

Japanese

Men
Women

>90
>80

Source: Adapted from Zimmet & Alberti (2006)

C. BODY FAT MEASUREMENT

1. Measure your body fat percentage using:
a.
b.

Skin Fold Caliper (manual)

Body Fat Monitor (digital)

2. Compare your results with Fat Percentage Analysis Table (Table 4 & 5) and Table
Adiposity.

Table 4: Age-adjusted body fat charts for women

Age
20-40 yrs
41-60 yrs
61-79 yrs

Underfat
Under 21%
Under 23%
Under 24%

Healthy Range
21-33%
23-35%
24-36%

Overweight
33-39%
35-40%
36-42%

Obese
Over 39%
Over 40%
Over 42%

Table 5: Age-adjusted body fat charts for men

Age
20-40 yrs
41-60 yrs
61-79 yrs

Underfat
Under 8%
Under 11%
Under 13%

Healthy Range
8-19%
11-22%
13-25%

Overweight
19-25%
22-27%
25-30%

Obese
Over 25%
Over 27%
Over 30%

Source: Gallagher et al. (2000), Am J Clin Nut; 72:694-701

Table 6: Body composition body fat levels

** REPORT
In the discussion section, please discuss and compare your results (i.e. BMI, WHR and
body fat percentage) with your group members. Then, find at least two recent journal
articles related to the anthropometric measurements and compare with your results.
Finally, write the conclusion based on your results.

Appendix: Body fat pictures for men and women