Anthropometric Assessment

Question 1

Purpose

Answer 1

To identify symptoms of deficiency disease
To identify those at risk of deficiency disease
To identify wasting associated with other disease processes
To identify those for whom body weight and nutrition may be a health concern

Question 2

Malnutrition

Answer 2

11- 19 % of over 65s in the UK
60 % of over 65s in a hospital setting
40 % of the hospitalised population

Question 3

Medical history

Answer 3

Change of weight
# Disease driven/ Driver for disease

Loss of strength (e.g. grip test)

Loss of appetite
# General Satiety
# Nausea or vomiting

Barriers to food consumption

GI health

Bowel habits: Changes/ Bleeding

Previous or current diagnosed disease

Medication

Supplement usage

Alcohol and smoking

Evidence of deficiency disease:
Rash/ Stomatitis/ Glossitis/ Bitot’s spots/ Retinopathy
Neuropathies

Evidence of dehydration:
Hypotension/ Tachycardia

Question 4

Clinical symptoms

Answer 4

slide 10-11

Question 5

Attained adult height

Answer 5

Genetics
Nutrition
Disease
Gender

# Attained adult height is indicative of nutritional adequacy during growth years
# Mean height increased in men by 1 cm per decade through the 20th century. 
# Socio-cultural phenomenon - Higher representation of taller people in wealthier cohorts

Question 6

Taller decreased risk of

Answer 6

Protection against cardiovascular disease
Protection against metabolic disease
Protection against COPD

Question 7

Taller increased risk of

Answer 7

Colorectal cancer
Breast cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Ovarian cancer

Question 8

Measurement of height

Answer 8

Feasible in an ambulatory population

Difficulties with the infirm or the disabled

 Alternative measures: 
# Ulna length= Elbow to wrist  

# Demispan = distance from middle of sternal notch to middle finger tips
F height = 1.35 x demispan + 60.1
M height = 1.40 x demispan + 57.8

Question 9

body mass index

Answer 9

A tool for the assessment of body weight related to height

BMI= Weight (kg) / Height^2 (m2)

Question 10

Classification of overweight and obesity based on BMI

Answer 10

Underweight

Question 11

Lean muscle = Metabolically very active

because

Answer 11

Insulin sensitive
Glucose clearance
Glucose utilisation

Question 12

Skeleton is prone to

Answer 12

Prone to deficiency disease

Prone to weakening with age, sub-optimal nutrition and physical activity patterns

Question 13

Fat mass is important as

Answer 13

# Energy reserve
# Protection against trauma
# Endocrine function
# Inflammatory organ: Metabolic disease/ Cancer

Question 14

Waist : Hip Ratio

Answer 14

Simple method for describing the distribution of both adipose tissue

Waist:hip ratio increases with age and excessive weight, both separately and in combination

                           M                       F high risk              >0.95             >0.85 moderate risk   0/9- 0.95       0.8 - 0.85 low risk

Question 15

6 common anatomical site

Answer 15

biscep/ forearm / Abdomen/ thigh/ hips/ calf

Question 16

Skin fold thickness

Answer 16

provide an estimate of the size of the subcutaneous fat deposit –> provides an estimate of the total body fat

Measurements made using calipers (Harpenden)

Question 17

Common 4 sites for Skin fold thickness

Answer 17

Triceps / Biceps /Subscapular /Suprailiac

Raw measurements are then put into regression equations to estimate % body fat

Question 18

Mid arm circumference

Answer 18

Used to estimate total body muscle

Mid arm muscle circumference
= mid arm circumference – (pi x tricep skinfold thickness)

Question 19

Body density

Answer 19

# Air or water displacement - Exact measure of body volume
# Combine with measurement of weight and height
# Muscle heavier than fat
# Estimation of body composition

Body density= Weight/ Volume
% body fat = 495/D - 450

Question 20

Bioelectrical impedance

Answer 20

Higher body water, greater lean muscle mass

Body fat- Desirable range:
Men 11- 22 %
Women 24-34 %

Body fat more safely stored around the legs than the trunk

Question 21

Scan for body compositiion

Answer 21

Dual energy X ray absorbtiometry

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging

Question 22

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Answer 22

Atoms of the body placed in a magnetic field - Orientates them with the same spin

Radiowaves introduced - Shifts the spin depending on the atom

Radiowave removed atom reverts releasing energy
This is detected