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Nutritional Assessment Health Article

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Nutritional Assessment

A nutrition assessment is an in-depth evaluation of both objective and subjective data related to an individual's food and nutrient intake, lifestyle, and medical history.

Once the data on an individual is collected and organized, the practitioner can assess and evaluate the nutritional status of that person. The assessment leads to a plan of care, or intervention, designed to help the individual either maintain the assessed status or attain a healthier status.

Elements of the Assessment

The data for a nutritional assessment falls into four categories: anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary.

Anthropometrics.

Anthropometrics are the objective measurements of body muscle and fat. They are used to compare individuals, to compare growth in the young, and to assess weight loss or gain in the mature individual. Weight and height are the most frequently used anthropometric measurements, and skinfold measurements of several areas of the body are also taken.

As early as 1836, tables had been developed to compare weight and height in order to provide a reference for an individual's health status. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company revised height and weight tables in 1942, using data from policyholders, to relate weight to disease and mortality. There has been much discussion about the relevance (and appropriateness) of using the individuals who buy life insurance as a basis for "ideal" height and weight. There are also a number of problems with using a table to determine whether an individual is at the right weight—or even what the "ideal

Women
Height Feet–Inches Small frame Medium frame Large frame
4 10 102–111 109–121 118–131
4 11 103–113 111–123 120–134
5 0 104–115 113–126 122–137
5 1 106–118 115–129 125–140
5 2 108–121 118–132 128–143
5 3 111–124 121–135 131–147
5 4 114–127 124–138 134–151
5 5 117–130 127–141 137–155
5 6 120–133 130–144 140–159
5 7 123–136 133–147 143–163
5 8 126–139 136–150 146–167
5 9 129–142 139–153 149–170
5 10 132–145 142–156 152–173
5 11 135–148 145–159 155–176
6 0 138–151 148–162 158–179

Men
Height Feet–Inches Small frame Medium frame Large frame
5 2 128–134 131–141 138–150
5 3 130–136 133–143 140–153
5 4 132–138 135–145 142–156
5 5 134–140 137–148 144–160
5 6 136–142 139–151 146–164
5 7 138–145 142–154 149–168
5 8 140–148 145–157 152–172
5 9 142–151 148–160 155–176
5 10 144–154 151–163 158–180
5 11 146–157 154–166 161–184
6 0 149–160 157–170 164–188
6 1 152–164 160–174 168–192
6 2 155–168 164–178 172–197
6 3 158–172 167–182 176–202
6 4 162–176 171–187 181–207

weight" means. Tables should therefore be used only as a guide, and other measurements should be included in the data collection and evaluation.

In 1959, research indicated that the lowest mortality rates were associated with below-average weight, and the phrase "desirable weight" replaced "ideal weight" in the title of the height and weight table.

To further characterize an individual's height and weight, tables also include body-frame size, which can be estimated in many ways. An easy way is to wrap the thumb and forefinger of the nondominant hand around the wrist of the dominant hand. If the thumb and forefinger meet, the frame is medium; if the fingers do not meet, the frame is large; and if they overlap, the frame is small.

Determining frame size is an attempt at attributing weight to specific body compartments. Frame size identifies an individual relative to the bone size, but does not differentiate muscle mass from body fat. Because it is the muscle mass that is metabolically active and the body fat that is associated with disease states, Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to estimate the body-fat mass. BMI is derived from an equation using weight and height.

To estimate body fat, skinfold measurements can be made using skin-fold calipers. Most frequently, tricep and subscapular (shoulder blade) skin-folds are measured. Measurements can then be compared to reference data—and to previous measurements of the individual, if available. Accurate measuring takes practice, and comparison measurements are most reliable if done by the same technician each time.

To estimate desirable body weight for amputees, and for paraplegics and quadriplegics, equations have been developed from cadaver studies, estimating desirable body weight, as well as calorie and protein needs. Calorie needs are determined by the height, weight, and age of an individual, which determine an estimate of daily needs.

The Harris-Benedict equation is frequently used, but there are quicker methods to estimate needs using just height and weight. Opinions and methods vary on how to estimate calorie needs for the obese. As previously mentioned, body fat is less metabolically active and requires fewer calories for support than muscle mass. If an individual's current body weight is more than 125 percent of the desirable weight for the individual's height and age, then using body weight to estimate calories needs usually leads to an over-estimation of those needs.

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Author Info: Carole S. Mackey, The Gale Group Inc., Macmillan Reference USA, New York, Gale Nutrition and Well-Being A to Z, 2004
 
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