Anthropometric measurements are useful in identifying individuals whose nutritional deficiencies or excesses are reflected in growth and development. For this reason, physical growth is one of the best indicators of nutritional status during infancy and childhood. During growing years, nutrition assessment is greatly simplified by the fact that the level of nutrition affects growth and the degree of muscularity and fatness. However, chronic undernutrition or malnutrition will retard growth and development. Retardation of growth and development may also be caused by other environmental and genetic factors quite independent of nutrition.
Measurements are only as useful as they are accurate .
Accurate measurements recorded and plotted correctly are an essential first step in a child's nutrition assessment. In actual practice, unfortunately, the level of accuracy and precision is often unsatisfactory. Relatively small errors in measuring, recording or plotting of a child's physical dimensions can seriously impair results. For this reason, when gathering and interpreting anthropometric measurements, standardized equipment and procedures must be used, and appropriate reference standards for length, weight, circumferences, and skinfold thicknesses must be selected. Infant Measuring Board.