Nutritional Evaluation Using Dfferent Anthropometric Variables in Nigerian School Children

The anthropometric characteristics of 600 apparently healthy children of ages between 5 and 10 years of Gbagyi tribe of Abuja Nigeria; consisting of males (n = 300) with a mean age of 7.10 ? 1.98 and females (n = 300) with a mean age of 7.68 ? 1.86 were selected for the evaluation of their nutritional status using different anthropometric variables. The anthropometric characteristic of their height; age; weight; mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC); chest circumference and body mass index (BMI) was measured and analysed statistically for any significant difference; and correlation between the parameters studied. The results show some significant differences (P = 0.05) between the anthropometric parameters and a significant correlation (=0.001) between the height and BMI; and other parameters in males and females. The study derived a linear regression and a multiple linear regression equations for Gbagyi children from which height; age; weight; MUAC; chest circumference and BMI could be predicted if one factor is known. The results from the present study provided an insight into the nutritional status of Nigerian school children of Gbagyi tribe of Abuja using the BMI and MUAC which showed if a child is malnourished; overweight or obese. The results from the present study show that there is a positive correlation between height and age; and other parameters indicating that height could be predicted using age; weight; BMI; chest circumference and MUAC; while BMI and mid upper arm circumference could be a useful tool in the estimation of nutritional status among Nigerian school children of Gbagyi tribe of Abuja

New Anthropometric Indices as Determinants of Overwieght and Predictors of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disability in Women.

Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and physical disability but modest overweight is less properly quantified and investigated. Objective of this work is to critically assess the Body Mass Index (BMI) and other anthropometric measurements to define overweight in addition to obesity, as overweight itself influences hypertension and other diseases which are revealed by the present investigation. For the diagnosis and prevention of the complication of obesity earlier diagnosis and prevention of overweight is more essential than to treat obesity. Two thousand women aged between 20-60 years were investigated. Their height, weight, chest circumference, abdomen circumference, hip circumference and mid arm circumference were measured. Besides blood sugar (fasting) and cholesterol (fasting) in all and lipid profile (fasting) in 200 women were estimated and their E.C.G. changes were also assessed. Their physical efficiencies were also tested computing all these data following guidelines of weight for adult women are proposed. Maximum Body Weight (M.B.W) - (Height in cm - 100 cm) × kg/cm. Above this weight (M.B.W.) is overweight. 15% higher than above (M.B.W.) is obesity. 15% less than maximum weight is underweight. 30% less than maximum is morbid underweight. The morbid underweight subjects are unable to carry 5 kgs weight for 10 minutes. Ratio of Chest circumference / Abdomen circumference or Waist circumference (C/W) must be more than unity, preferably more that 1.05. Ratio of Height/Mid arm circumference should be between 6.00 to 7.50. Ratio below 6.00 is overweight. Ratio above 7.50 is underweight.

The anthropometric measurements of tibia.

Anthropometry provides scientific method and technique for taking various measurements in different geographic regions and races. The Tibia itself is a complex anatomic unit so anthropometric study was devised on the same. In the present study 60 (26 right and 34 left) intact adult tibia were obtained from the bone bank of Anatomy Department of MGIMS, Sevagram. For this purpose a digital vernier caliper, osteometric board and measuring tape were used. The study was aimed at determining measurements for obtaining Cross-Section Index in middle, Cnemicus Index and Length-Thickness Index for both right and left Tibia. The details of data obtained with relevant review of literature will be discussed. The mean of Cross Sectional index for Right tibias was 102.90± 22.78. Similarly mean of Cross Sectional index for left tibias was 124.31± 25.06. The mean of Cnemicus Index for Right tibias was 66.17 ± 10.68 and for left side these values came out to be 67.31 ± 7.35. These are not statistically significant. The mean of Length-Thickness Index were 24.21 ± 0.96 and 24.43 ± 1.78 for right and left Tibias respectively.

Various Anthropometric Methods of Assessment of Nutritional Status in Under Five Children.

Background: For assessment of nutritional status of under five children various anthropometric indices are being used indiscriminately and so the estimated prevalence of malnutrition varies in different methods. Objectives: 1. To determine the prevalence of under nutrition is assessed as per various methods assessment of nutritional status in children under five years of age attending Anganwadi. 2. To compare the common anthropometric measurements in order to find out best suitable method for individual assessment of malnutrition. Materials & Methods: The under-five children attending Anganwadies were selected randomly and each child underwent different anthropometric measurement such as Gomez classification (Weight for age), Wasting (Weight for height), Stunting (Height for age) and mid-arm circumference by Bangle test. Statistical Analysis: Percentage, proportion and discriminant analysis were applied. Results: Total 235 under five children were included in the study. As per Gomez classification 119 (51.14%) children were undernourished. 67 ((28.52%) children were wasted, 116 (49.36%) children were stunted and as per Bangle test 75 (31.91%) children were undernourished. The discriminant analysis of all these methods observed that stunting has the highest proportion of correctly classifying a child into normal or malnourished group. Conclusion: Stunting should be preferred over other methods for assessment of nutritional status of under five children.