The Anthropometry in nutritional and growth assessment of children and adolescents

• Main Author: Bruno Sousa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: ALIES - Associação Lusófona para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação e do Ensino das Ciências da Saúde 2017-12-01
• Series: Journal Biomedical and Biopharmaceutical Research (BBR)
• Subjects: anthropometry; nutritional assessment; growth; children; adolescents
• Online Access: http://www.alies.pt/BBR%20Editions/Vol-14-2-2017/art1.pdf

For nutritional and growth assessment, anthropometry plays an important role. Specific care for children and adolescents, described within this work, is needed in order to allow a correct evaluation of the situation. Due to the stage of growth and development of the child and adolescent population, an adequate choice of anthropometric variables, accuracy in measurement, and comparison with appropriate references that reflect the population or individuals to be evaluated are required. Anthropometry thus plays an important role in the daily clinical practice of the various professionals who evaluate the growth and nutritional status of children and adolescents, but it needs to be correctly used and interpreted.