Anthropometric Measurements Lab

Anthropometric Measurements

• Anthropometric measurements involve measuring body height, weight, and proportions.
• They are a crucial part of clinical examinations, especially for infants, children, and pregnant women.
• Measurements are compared to reference data for the same age and sex group.
• These measurements assess both under and over nutrition.

Objective of Today's Lab

• The objective of today's lab is to evaluate the obesity status of the class through various anthropometric measurements.

Instruments

• Weighing machine
• Measuring tape

Measurements

• Body Mass Index (BMI): The international standard for assessing body size in adults.
• Waist Circumference (WC): Measures waist circumference.
• Waist-to-Stature Ratio(WSR): Measures waist to height ratio.
• Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR): Calculated by dividing waist measurement by hip measurement.

Weight Measurement

• Weight should be taken in kilograms (kg).
• Barefoot with light clothing is essential.
• Measure to the nearest 0.0 or 0.5 kg.

Standing Height Measurement

• Heels should be close to the wall, with feet together.
• Head must be straight.
• The neck should not be flexed or extended.
• Measure to the nearest millimeter (mm) in centimeters (cm) using a measuring scale.

Waist Circumference Measurement

• Measure around the body midway between the lower rib margin and the iliac crest.
• The subject should breathe out gently.
• Measure in cm to the nearest .0 or .5 cm.

Hip Circumference Measurement

• Measure at the widest part of the hip bones.
• Ensure the measurement is level and parallel to the floor, but not so tight as to depress the skin.
• Measure in centimetres to the nearest 0.0 or 0.5 cm.

BMI Calculation

• BMI = Weight(kg) / Height(m)²

BMI Classification

• <18.5: Underweight
• 18.5-24.9: Normal weight
• 25-29.9: Overweight
• 30-39.9: Obesity
• >40: Morbid obesity

WHR Norms

• Males:
  • Excellent: <0.85
  • Good: 0.85-0.89
  • Average: 0.90-0.95
  • At Risk: ≥0.95
• Females:
  • Excellent: <0.75
  • Good: 0.75-0.79
  • Average: 0.80-0.86
  • At Risk: ≥0.86

Calculation of WSR (Waist to Stature Ratio)

• Divide the waist measurement by the height measurement.

WSR Categories

• <0.40: Underweight
• 0.40-0.60: Normal weight
• 0.61-0.66: Overweight
• 0.67-0.78: Obesity
• >0.78: Severely obese

Summary Table

• A summary table provides the categories of obesity based on BMI, WC, WHR, and WSR for men and women.

Relevant YouTube Videos

• Links to YouTube videos on measuring waist and hip circumference, measuring height at home with a measuring tape, and measuring height with a stadiometer are provided.