NUTRITIONAL

ASSESSMENT
 DEFINITION
• Nutritional assessment is the interpretation of
anthropometric, biochemical (laboratory), clinical
and dietary data to determine whether a person or
groups of people are well-nourished or
malnourished (over-nourished or under-nourished)
PURPOSE
• Identifyindividuals or population group at
risk of becoming malnourished.
• Identify
individuals or population group who
are malnourished.
• Todevelop health care programs that meet
the community needs which are defined by
the assessment.
PURPOSE
• To measure the effectiveness of the
nutritional programs and intervention once
initiated iodine.
 METHODS OF NUTRITIONAL
ASSESSMENT
Nutritional
assessment

Direct method Indirect method

Anthropometric Biochemical,
Ecological Economic
methods laboratory
variable factor
method

Dietary
Vital health
Clinical method evaluation
statistics
method
 DIRECT METHOD OF
NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT
 ANTHROPOMETRY
• It is the measurement of body height , weight and
skin fold thickness etc.

• These measurements are compared to the

reference data (standards) of the same age and
gender, in order to evaluate the nutritional status.
• It is used to evaluate both under & over-nutrition.

• The measured values reflect the current nutritional

status & not used to identify specific nutritional
deficiencies.
• It is the single most portable, universally
applicable, inexpensive and non-invasive
technique for assessing the proportions and
composition of the human body size.
 Anthropometry for Children
(Parameter)
• It includes accurate measurement of
Age-dependent factors
a) Weight b) Height c) Head circumference
d) Chest circumference.
Age-independent factors
a)Mid-arm circumference (1-5 years) b) Weight for height
c) Skinfold thickness d) Mid-upper arm/height ratio
• The results can be used to evaluate the physical
growth of the child.

• For growth monitoring the data are plotted on the

growth chart over a period of time and can be
compared to international standads.
• The measurement of weight is most reliable
criteria of assessment of health and nutritional
status of children
• Weight can be recorded using

• Beam type weighing balance/ Spring

• Electronic weighing scales for infants and children

• Salter spring machine (in field conditions)

• Expected weight of the child using Weech’s Formula

• 3 – 12 months = Expected weight(kg) = age (months) + 9 / 2

• 1- 6 years = Expected weight(kg) = age (years) x 2 + 8

• 7 – 12 years = Expected weight(kg) = age (years) x 7 - 5