An evaluation of age-independent anthropometric indices for the assessment of nutritional status in pre-school children
Seth, V.; Ghai, O.P.; Rangaswami, R.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 63(1): 66-76
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 814081 Document Number: 96187
The Delhi children aged 1 to 5 years were 587 normal, 94 underweight and 50 marasmic, being 80% or over, 60 to 80% and under 60% of the reference standard, the 50th percentile of Stuart and Stevenson (in Textbook of Pediatrics, ed. Nelson; USA, Philadelphia, Saunders (1964), 9th ed.); 101, 43 and 48 were aged under 3 years. They were measured in kg and cm. Of about 6 indices of nutritional status, the 2 most suitable for field use were mid-arm circumference/head circumference and 100 X bodyweight/height1.6. Those were independent of age; their overlap of malnourished with normal children was 12.9 and 17.6%. Tables are given for both indices to calculate the bodyweight and mid-arm circumference for a given height and head circumference to class a child as normal, underweight or severely malnourished.