![]() For children greater than two years of age, indicated measurements include weight and length. Body Mass Index (BMI) measurement is recommended for all children two years and older to determine adequate nutritional status and risk of obesity. For infants and toddlers less than two years of age, weight, length, and head circumference are indicated anthropometric measurements at each well-visit. However, according to the CHDP guidelines, steady change of the growth curve on serial measurements is a reliable indicator of an abnormal growth pattern and warrants further workup. Solitary deviations from a growth pattern curve can be a normal variant or due to an acute illness. ![]() Accurate serial measurements over time are the most important aspect of anthropometry. The Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) Program Health Assessment Guidelines (guideline #4) recommend anthropometric measurements in all children and adolescents at each preventive visit to ensure adequate growth patterns and to assess the risk of obesity. Anthropometric measurements are also used to assess nutritional status in pregnant women and to assess patients with obesity. Anthropometric measurements can also assess body composition in athletes this has been shown to optimize the competitive performance of athletes and to help identify underlying medical problems, such as eating disorders. Anthropometry-driven fitness programs in athletes have been shown to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and strength. Abnormal anthropometric measurements, especially in the pediatric population, warrant further evaluation. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) Program Health Assessment Guidelines (guideline #4), accurate serial anthropometric measurements can help identify underlying medical, nutritional, or social problems in children. The core elements of anthropometry are height, weight, head circumference, body mass index (BMI), body circumferences to assess for adiposity (waist, hip, and limbs), and skinfold thickness. In adults, body measurements can help to assess health and dietary status and future disease risk. These measurements can also be used to determine body composition in adults to help determine underlying nutritional status and diagnose obesity. Growth measurements and normal growth patterns are the gold standards by which clinicians assess the health and well-being of a child. Typically they are used in the pediatric population to evaluate the general health status, nutritional adequacy, and the growth and developmental pattern of the child. ![]() According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anthropometry provides a valuable assessment of nutritional status in children and adults. Anthropometric measurements are noninvasive quantitative measurements of the body.
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