GUIDE TO ANTHROPOMETRY
A Practical Tool for Program
Planners, Managers, and
Implementers
Kristen Cashin and Lesley Oot
May 2018
FANTA III
FOOD AND NUTRITION
T E C H N I C A L A S S I S TA N C E
GUIDE TO ANTHROPOMETRY: A PRACTICAL TOOL FOR PROGRAM PLANNERS, MANAGERS, AND IMPLEMENTERS 1
, Introduction
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
to the Guide
Acknowledgements
Many people contributed to the creation of this guide—developing the concept, writing and reorganizing the text,
and providing technical feedback on its accuracy, flow, and usability. The authors of the Guide to Anthropometry:
A Practical Tool for Program Planners, Managers, and Implementers wish to thank Deborah Collison, Jennifer
Crum, and Tina Lloren (FHI 360/FANTA) for their support designing, writing, and reviewing sections of the
guide. In addition, we are grateful to Sujata Bose, Megan Deitchler, Zeina Maalouf-Manasseh, Sandra Remancus,
Kavita Sethuraman, A. Elisabeth Sommerfelt, and Monica Woldt (FHI 360/FANTA) for their technical review and
feedback on the flow and design of the guide. We would also like to thank Monika Bloessner (then with World
Health Organization [WHO] Department of Nutrition) and Mercedes de Onis (WHO) for providing valuable
technical support and thoughtful answers to many questions. Finally, we appreciate the extensive support from
Anna Lisi, Katherine Sanchez, and Pamela Sutton (FHI 360/FANTA) in editing the guide, Kay Garcia (FHI 360) for
the illustrations, and Heather Finegan (FHI 360/FANTA) for the graphic design and layout of the guide.
Recommended Citation Funding Disclaimer
Kristen Cashin and Lesley Oot. 2018. Guide to This guide is made possible by the generous support
Anthropometry: A Practical Tool for Program Planners, of the American people through the support of
Managers, and Implementers. Washington, DC: Food USAID’s Office of Maternal and Child Health and
and Nutrition Technical Assistance III Project (FANTA)/ Nutrition, Bureau for Global Health, under terms of
FHI 360. Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-12-00005,
through FANTA, managed by FHI 360. The contents
are the responsibility of FHI 360 and do not
necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United
States Government.
GUIDE TO ANTHROPOMETRY: A PRACTICAL TOOL FOR PROGRAM PLANNERS, MANAGERS, AND IMPLEMENTERS i
, Introduction ABBREVIATIONS &
to the Guide ACRONYMS
Abbreviations and Acronyms
BMI body mass index MGRS Multicentre Growth Reference Study
CDC U.S. Centers for Disease Control and MICS Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey
Prevention
MUAC mid-upper arm circumference
CMAM community-based management of acute
malnutrition NCHS National Center for Health Statistics
DHS Demographic and Health Survey NGO nongovernmental organization
FANTA Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance SAM severe acute malnutrition
III Project SD standard deviation
GDP gross domestic product SGA small for gestational age
HFA height-for-age TB tuberculosis
HIV human immunodeficiency virus UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund
INTER- International Fetal and Newborn Growth USAID U.S. Agency for International
GROWTH 21st Consortium for the 21st Century Development
IOM Institute of Medicine WFA weight-for-age
IPC Integrated Food Security Phase WFH weight-for-height
Classification
WHO World Health Organization
LBW low birth weight
MAM moderate acute malnutrition
GUIDE TO ANTHROPOMETRY: A PRACTICAL TOOL FOR PROGRAM PLANNERS, MANAGERS, AND IMPLEMENTERS ii
, Introduction WHAT IS THE GUIDE &
to the Guide WHO IS THE AUDIENCE?
What Is the FANTA Guide to Anthropometry?
The FANTA Guide to Anthropometry is a user-friendly reference that provides up-to-date information on
anthropometry—the measurement of the human body—and how to use it to assess and understand the nutritional
status of individuals and populations. It replaces the Anthropometric Indicators Measurement Guide, published in
2003, and provides comprehensive information on the importance of good nutrition, common nutrition conditions,
anthropometric measurements, indices, and indicators; and data interpretation as well as measurement protocols and
information on equipment selection. The new guide reflects several significant advances, including the release of the
World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards and the WHO Growth Reference for children 5–19 years, the
use of mid-upper arm circumference as a key indicator for acute malnutrition, and the increased interest in the nutrition
of adolescents and adults in developing countries.
The guide focuses on anthropometric measurements that are commonly used in low-resource settings and that require
reasonably affordable and accessible equipment. It does not discuss measurements that require unique or expensive
equipment that is not commonly available in low-resource settings (e.g., sonogram equipment to determine gestational
age). The guide does not provide information on planning and implementing surveys. Guidance on survey planning and
implementation is forthcoming from Feed the Future and WHO. Links to those resources will be added here when
available.
Who Is the Audience for the Guide?
The guide helps health and development professionals to better collect, understand, and/or use anthropometric data
as part of service provision, surveillance, surveys, monitoring and evaluation, or program design. The guidance here,
including the protocols, can be used as part of providing regular health services in a clinic or community setting or
to inform the use of anthropometric measurement in population-based surveys. The guide is also useful for anyone
engaged in improving or understanding food security, nutrition, or health in developing countries who wishes to better
understand the information provided through anthropometry.
GUIDE TO ANTHROPOMETRY: A PRACTICAL TOOL FOR PROGRAM PLANNERS, MANAGERS, AND IMPLEMENTERS 1
A Practical Tool for Program
Planners, Managers, and
Implementers
Kristen Cashin and Lesley Oot
May 2018
FANTA III
FOOD AND NUTRITION
T E C H N I C A L A S S I S TA N C E
GUIDE TO ANTHROPOMETRY: A PRACTICAL TOOL FOR PROGRAM PLANNERS, MANAGERS, AND IMPLEMENTERS 1
, Introduction
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
to the Guide
Acknowledgements
Many people contributed to the creation of this guide—developing the concept, writing and reorganizing the text,
and providing technical feedback on its accuracy, flow, and usability. The authors of the Guide to Anthropometry:
A Practical Tool for Program Planners, Managers, and Implementers wish to thank Deborah Collison, Jennifer
Crum, and Tina Lloren (FHI 360/FANTA) for their support designing, writing, and reviewing sections of the
guide. In addition, we are grateful to Sujata Bose, Megan Deitchler, Zeina Maalouf-Manasseh, Sandra Remancus,
Kavita Sethuraman, A. Elisabeth Sommerfelt, and Monica Woldt (FHI 360/FANTA) for their technical review and
feedback on the flow and design of the guide. We would also like to thank Monika Bloessner (then with World
Health Organization [WHO] Department of Nutrition) and Mercedes de Onis (WHO) for providing valuable
technical support and thoughtful answers to many questions. Finally, we appreciate the extensive support from
Anna Lisi, Katherine Sanchez, and Pamela Sutton (FHI 360/FANTA) in editing the guide, Kay Garcia (FHI 360) for
the illustrations, and Heather Finegan (FHI 360/FANTA) for the graphic design and layout of the guide.
Recommended Citation Funding Disclaimer
Kristen Cashin and Lesley Oot. 2018. Guide to This guide is made possible by the generous support
Anthropometry: A Practical Tool for Program Planners, of the American people through the support of
Managers, and Implementers. Washington, DC: Food USAID’s Office of Maternal and Child Health and
and Nutrition Technical Assistance III Project (FANTA)/ Nutrition, Bureau for Global Health, under terms of
FHI 360. Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-12-00005,
through FANTA, managed by FHI 360. The contents
are the responsibility of FHI 360 and do not
necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United
States Government.
GUIDE TO ANTHROPOMETRY: A PRACTICAL TOOL FOR PROGRAM PLANNERS, MANAGERS, AND IMPLEMENTERS i
, Introduction ABBREVIATIONS &
to the Guide ACRONYMS
Abbreviations and Acronyms
BMI body mass index MGRS Multicentre Growth Reference Study
CDC U.S. Centers for Disease Control and MICS Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey
Prevention
MUAC mid-upper arm circumference
CMAM community-based management of acute
malnutrition NCHS National Center for Health Statistics
DHS Demographic and Health Survey NGO nongovernmental organization
FANTA Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance SAM severe acute malnutrition
III Project SD standard deviation
GDP gross domestic product SGA small for gestational age
HFA height-for-age TB tuberculosis
HIV human immunodeficiency virus UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund
INTER- International Fetal and Newborn Growth USAID U.S. Agency for International
GROWTH 21st Consortium for the 21st Century Development
IOM Institute of Medicine WFA weight-for-age
IPC Integrated Food Security Phase WFH weight-for-height
Classification
WHO World Health Organization
LBW low birth weight
MAM moderate acute malnutrition
GUIDE TO ANTHROPOMETRY: A PRACTICAL TOOL FOR PROGRAM PLANNERS, MANAGERS, AND IMPLEMENTERS ii
, Introduction WHAT IS THE GUIDE &
to the Guide WHO IS THE AUDIENCE?
What Is the FANTA Guide to Anthropometry?
The FANTA Guide to Anthropometry is a user-friendly reference that provides up-to-date information on
anthropometry—the measurement of the human body—and how to use it to assess and understand the nutritional
status of individuals and populations. It replaces the Anthropometric Indicators Measurement Guide, published in
2003, and provides comprehensive information on the importance of good nutrition, common nutrition conditions,
anthropometric measurements, indices, and indicators; and data interpretation as well as measurement protocols and
information on equipment selection. The new guide reflects several significant advances, including the release of the
World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards and the WHO Growth Reference for children 5–19 years, the
use of mid-upper arm circumference as a key indicator for acute malnutrition, and the increased interest in the nutrition
of adolescents and adults in developing countries.
The guide focuses on anthropometric measurements that are commonly used in low-resource settings and that require
reasonably affordable and accessible equipment. It does not discuss measurements that require unique or expensive
equipment that is not commonly available in low-resource settings (e.g., sonogram equipment to determine gestational
age). The guide does not provide information on planning and implementing surveys. Guidance on survey planning and
implementation is forthcoming from Feed the Future and WHO. Links to those resources will be added here when
available.
Who Is the Audience for the Guide?
The guide helps health and development professionals to better collect, understand, and/or use anthropometric data
as part of service provision, surveillance, surveys, monitoring and evaluation, or program design. The guidance here,
including the protocols, can be used as part of providing regular health services in a clinic or community setting or
to inform the use of anthropometric measurement in population-based surveys. The guide is also useful for anyone
engaged in improving or understanding food security, nutrition, or health in developing countries who wishes to better
understand the information provided through anthropometry.
GUIDE TO ANTHROPOMETRY: A PRACTICAL TOOL FOR PROGRAM PLANNERS, MANAGERS, AND IMPLEMENTERS 1
