Nutrition assessment
Nutrition assessment is a detailed, systematic process of collecting and interpreting information to make decisions about an individual's or a population's nutritional status.
The main purpose is to:
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Identify individuals who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition (both under- and over-nutrition).
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Determine the nature, causes, and significance of their nutrition-related health issues.
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Establish the foundation for developing a personalized nutrition care plan or intervention.
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Monitor the effectiveness of interventions over time.
1. Anthopometry
Anthropometry is the systematic study and technique of measuring the human body. It involves noninvasive quantitative measurements of physical dimensions and gross composition to assess an individual's or a population's size, shape, and functional capacity.
The term comes from the Greek words anthropos (human) and metron (measure).
In the context of nutrition and health, anthropometry is a primary component of a nutritional assessment. It provides valuable information on nutritional status, growth and development, and the risk of disease.