Age Independent Anthropometry

Age Independent Anthropometry
Midarm Circumference (MAC)
Weight for Height
Quackstick
Midarm/Head Circumference ratio
Quetlet’s Index
Mid-upper Arm/Height Ratio
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Ponderal Index (PI)



Midarm Circumference (MAC)
Weight for Height
Quackstick
Midarm/Head Circumference ratio
Quetlet’s Index
Mid-upper Arm/Height Ratio
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Ponderal Index (PI)

1. Age Independent Anthropometry By- Dr. Brij Raghuwanshi

2. Age Independent Anthropometry Midarm Circumference (MAC) Weight for Height Quackstick Midarm/Head Circumference ratio Quetlet’s Index Mid-upper Arm/Height Ratio Body Mass Index (BMI) Ponderal Index (PI)

3. Midarm Circumference (MAC) As the midarm circumference is relatively constant between 16.5 cm to 17.5 cm in 1 to 5 years of age, this measurement may be considered as an age independent variable up to 5 years of age. Any child whose MAC is less than 12.5 cm up to 5 years of age, is considered malnourished. Shakir’s tape also measures the MAC. A bangle of 4 cm in diameter, used in field studies is not a reliable method (Bangle test).

4. Weight for Height The degree of wasting can be measured by comparing the child’s weight with expected weight for a healthy child of the same height. Combinations of these measurements have been used to distinguish different types of malnutrition. Water low suggested that weight for height can be used to distinguish between malnutrition of recent origin, i.e. wasting and malnutrition due to a considerable period of months. In chronic malnutrition the child is stunted with the weight for age and height for age being low. In acute malnutrition, height for age is normal but weight for age is low (wasting). Thus, the weight and height measurements together are useful in understanding the dynamics of malnutrition. In nutritional short stature the weight/height is equal; the child may pass off as a normal child of lower age if the chronological age is not known. These have been discussed in the chapter on ‘Protein-energy malnutrition’.

5. Quackstick Quaker’s midarm circumference measuring stick is a height measuring rod, calibrated in MAC rather than height; values of 80 percent MAC for height are marked on the stick at corresponding height levels. If a child is found taller than his/her arm circumference level on the stick, he/she is considered malnourished. The quackstick was devised in Mexico and has since been adapted in Africa and India.

6. Midarm/Head Circumference Ratio It is a simple and useful criterion for detection of malnutrition. A ratio 0.280 to 0.314 indicates early malnutrition, 0.250 to 0.279 moderate, and less than 0.249 denotes severe malnutrition

7. Quetlet’s Index It is based on the relationship between weight and height and is expressed as weight (kg)/Height (cm) × 100. Normal value varies from 0.14 to 0.16. In gross malnutrition, it is less than 0.14. It is a quite reliable ratio for assessing malnutrition.

8. Mid-upper Arm/Height Ratio It is also a very good indicator of nutritional status. A ratio of less than 0.29 indicates gross malnutrition, while the normal value ranges from 0.32 to 0.33.

9. Body Mass Index (BMI) This is similar to Quetlet’s index except that the values are in SI units. BMI values can be used to draw standardized percentile curves in children and adolescents. It is especially useful for defining obesity. BMI values above 95th percentile for age are usually used to define obesity.  

10. Ponderal Index (PI) This is another index similar to BMI and is often used in defining newborn with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).  

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