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This tutorial of Anthropometry is designed to give an overview of various anthropometric traits and indices providing indication of the general health and nutritional status of a person or a population. The main anthropometric procedures are briefly presented along with explanatory figures and tables, when necessary.
Context in source publication
Context 1
... between the two landmarks (the acromion and the olecranon). Read the number at the tip of the elbow to the nearest centimeter and divide this number by two to estimate the midpoint. If you want you can mark the midpoint with an indelible ink. 5. Ask the subject to relax his/her arm. 6. Put the tape around the subject's arm at the midpoint (Fig. 6). 7. Make sure that the tape is not too tight or too loose and that its plane is perpendicular to the line of the arm. 8. Read the measurement to the nearest 0.1 ...
Citations
... The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) measurement used the formula for dividing waist circumference by hip circumference. Hip circumference is measured using a metline around the maximum buttocks and make sure it doesn't press the skin (Rinaldo & Gualdi-russo, 2015). WHR was categorized into normal (WHR≤0.9 ...
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the non-communicable diseases which is the mayor leading cause of death in the world. One of the modifiable factors of cardiovascular disease is central obesity. Assessment of central obesity status was carried out by measuring waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). This study aimed to determine the relationship between WC and WHR with the risk of cardiovascular disease. This was an observational study with a cross-sectional design. There were 106 respondents selected using a convenience sampling technique. In this study, the risk of cardiovascular disease was calculated using the Jakarta Cardiovascular Score. The Spearman Rho’s was used as bivariate analysis for this study. The findings showed that WC and the risk of cardiovascular disease indicates a significant relationship with a moderate correlation (p <0.001 and r =0.467). Meanwhile, there was a significant relationship between WHR and the risk of cardiovascular disease (p<0.001 and r =0.385). Nurse may use this study result as an evidence to develop a preventive central obesity program.
COVID-19 infection has caused increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. Several strategies have been adopted around the world to prevent its spread. Italy underwent a long lockdown for face-to-face educational activities, which were replaced with online classes. This longitudinal study aimed to analyze the effects of COVID-19 prevention measures on physical growth and body image perception in a sample of Italian adolescents who experienced the pandemic-induced lockdown in 2020. In particular, we wished to ascertain how lifestyle changes had affected their growth rates and health. Special attention was paid to increases in adiposity indicators (BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio) and weight caused by reduced physical activity, and consequent possible dissatisfaction with body image. We assessed the impact of school closures by comparing the annual growth rate and body image perception changes of adolescents (n = 60; age = 11.3 ± 0.4 years) who experienced this isolation with those in the following years who did not experience these restrictions (n = 68; age = 11.4 ± 0.3 years). As a consequence of the lockdown, our results indicate a greater annual growth rate in weight and other indices of adiposity (p < 0.05). As the virus is continuing to evolve and propagate, larger population studies can verify and confirm our findings. In promoting health policy to prevent the ongoing prevalence of obesity in adolescents, an accurate assessment of whether the increase in obesity rates during the pandemic is to be considered a temporary trend is highly recommended.
Age at menarche (AAM) is an effective marker of puberty timing but its onset could be influenced by several intrinsic and extrinsic factors. This study aimed to assess the AAM in a sample of Italian adolescents and to investigate its association with anthropometric variables. Considering the rise in overweight/obesity worldwide, special attention was paid to a possible decrease in AAM as adiposity indices increase. A longitudinal study was carried out on 117 middle school girls in Northern Italy. Data concerning menarche and anthropometric traits (standing and sitting height, weight, waist circumference, and skinfold thicknesses) were directly collected. Lower limb length and indices of adiposity and growth were calculated. The median AAM was 11.66 (95% IC: 11.31–11.68). Age-adjusted ANCOVA between mature and non-mature girls showed significant differences in growth-related traits and WHtR. No preponderance of overweight/obesity among mature participants was found. AAM was not significantly associated with weight or the growth velocity of adiposity indices in a subsample of maturers. Moreover, the median AAM of our sample was similar to that found in women born about 60 years ago in the same region. In conclusion, in addition to a stabilization of AAM since the 1960s, our results suggest that there is no significant correlation between increased adiposity and early AAM.
In the last few decades, North African countries have faced the nutrition transition, leading to an increase in obesity, exacerbated by an extremely low rate of physical activity (PA). Particular attention must be paid to abdominal obesity (one of the metabolic syndrome criteria), which has been linked to several health problems. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of overweight/obesity, particularly abdominal obesity, in a sample of urban Moroccan women and to analyze the anthropometric indicators of metabolic syndrome risk among subsamples with different PA and socio-demographic characteristics. Urban Moroccan women living in Casablanca (n = 308; mean age 37.4 ± 15.6 years) were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Data concerning socio-demographic variables, PA behavior, and anthropometric measures (height, weight, waist, and hip circumferences) were directly collected. Body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, and relative fat mass were computed. Comparisons between women with different socio-demographic characteristics were performed through ANCOVA adjusted for age. The results reveal that 39.4% of the women did not practice any PA. The percentage of women above the cutoffs of risk for general and central obesity was more than half for all the indexes, except for waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and 19.6% were at a very high risk of health issues. Moreover, being female unmarried, childless, graduates, and students were found to be protective against obesity. In conclusion, Moroccan women have a high level of obesity, especially abdominal, and preventive interventions are needed to reduce the health impact of obesity in this population.
Objective
To estimate the prevalence of overweight/obesity and its associated factors among basic education teachers.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional study with probabilistic sampling by clustering. A questionnaire with socio-demographic, occupational, and psychosocial variables, as well as lifestyle, and health profiles was used.
Results
707 teachers participated in the study. Associations with overweight / obesity were found for the variables: the male gender, age >40 years, three or more children, workload, contracted/designated employment relationship, fat intake through meat, abusive consumption of alcoholic beverages, presence of depressive episodes, endocrine problems, arterial hypertension, and negative self-perception of health with the prevalence ratio ranging from 1.16 to 1.52 in the associated variables.
Conclusion
Overweight / obesity affected approximately half of those surveyed. There is a relationship between sociodemographic, occupational, and psychosocial variables and lifestyles, on the one hand, and health factors and the presence of overweight / obesity in teachers, on the other. Measures must be implemented on modifiable factors, aiming to promote their quality of life.
Keywords:
Faculty; Obesity; Occupational health
Bu çalışmada, yüzme sporu yapan çocuklarda antropometrik özellikler, bazı fiziksel uygunluk parametreleri ve yüzme performansları arasındaki ilişkilerin ortaya konulması amaçlanmıştır. Bu çalışmada araştırma grubunu, yaş ortalamaları 10,00±0,83 yıl olan 24 lisanslı kız çocuk ile yaş ortalamaları 9,91±0,82 yıl olan 24 lisanslı yüzücü erkek çocuk oluşturmuştur. Araştırmada, yüzücü çocukların seçilmiş antropometrik özellikleri, bazı fiziksel uygunluk özellikleri ve 50 metre yüzme performansları ölçülmüştür. Kız çocukların, 50 metre serbest stil yüzme performansı ile el uzunluğu, el genişliği, oturma yüksekliği, kulaç ve ayak uzunluğu değişkenleri arasında negatif yönde anlamlı ilişkiler bulunurken (p<0,05), ayak genişliği ile 50 metre yüzme performansı arasında anlamlı bir ilişkiye rastlanmamıştır (p>0,05). Kız çocukların, 50 metre serbest stil yüzme performansı ile sağ el kavrama kuvveti, sol el kavrama kuvveti, esneklik, durarak uzun atlama ve denge arasında negatif yönde anlamlı ilişkiler bulunmuştur (p<0,05). Erkek çocukların, 50 metre serbest stil yüzme performansı ile kulaç uzunluğu arasında negatif yönde anlamlı bir ilişki bulunurken (p<0,05), diğer antropometrik özellikler ile 50 metre yüzme performansı arasında anlamlı bir ilişkiye rastlanmamıştır (p>0,05). 50 metre serbest stil yüzme performansı ile durarak uzun atlama değerleri arasında negatif yönde anlamlı ilişki bulunmuştur (p<0,05). Sonuç olarak, bu yaş grubu yüzücü çocuklarda antropometrik özellikler ile bazı fiziksel uygunluk özelliklerinin yüzme performansı üzerinde belirleyici rol oynadığı, yapılacak antrenmanlarda bu özelliklerin gelişimi üzerine düzenli şekilde uygulanacak çalışmalarla yüzme performansında da istenilen yönde bir gelişim sağlanabileceği söylenebilir.
The involvement of pre-adolescents in soccer is becoming more and more frequent, and this growing participation generates some concerns about the potential factors for sports injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate sports injuries in younger (U9–U11) and older (U12–U13) children playing soccer at an elite level, analyzing potential anthropometric and maturity risk factors. A total of 88 elite soccer players aged 9–13 years were investigated. Weight, stature, and sitting height were measured at the start and at the end of the competitive season, computing the relative growth velocities. Additional body composition parameters were taken during a second survey. Maturity offset was calculated using predictive equations based on anthropometric traits such as years from age at peak height velocity (YPHV). Injuries suffered during the competitive season were recorded. Maturity and some anthropometric characteristics were significantly different according to the presence or absence of injuries among the players. Multiple logistic regression revealed that YPHV, body mass index (BMI), and calf muscle area were the factors most significantly correlated with injuries. Players with increased BMI, with decreased calf muscle area, and who were closer to their peak height velocity, were at a higher risk of injury. Findings showed that a monitoring program of anthropometric characteristics taking into account the maturational stage needs to be developed to prevent injuries.
Obesity is one of the major risks for chronic health conditions. Immigrants from low- and middle-income to high-income countries show a tendency to weight gain, with the country of origin, lifestyle habits, socioeconomic status and length of residence as the main factors involved. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the association between fat distribution and obesity with length of residence and other socio-demographic variables in a sample of North African women migrated to Italy. Socio-demographic variables were collected by structured face-to-face interview. For the assessment of weight status and body composition, various anthropometric traits were directly measured by an expert anthropometrist. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA adjusted for age to test the differences between length of residence (divided into three groups) and logistic regression models adjusted for covariates to test the association between overweight and/or obesity and length of residence. Significant differences between the three groups were observed in waist circumference (p = 0.004), waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.001), and upper arm muscularity (p = 0.025), with higher values in those with longer duration of residence. In the crude logistic regression model length of residence resulted positively associated with obesity with the odds of being obese increased by 2.4 times in long term immigrants [OR 2.364 (0.766; 7.296)]. After adjusting for covariate the association remained significant [OR 3.584 (0.779; 16.480)], and being poorly educated [OR 5.737 (0.641; 51.363)], unemployed [OR 6.892 (0.940; 50.528)] and not practicing regular physical activity [OR 17.736 (1.569; 200.418)] increased the odds ratio of being obese.
In conclusion, length of residence, socioeconomic status, and physical activity were significantly correlated with obesity, with a longer duration of residence being positively associated with central fat adiposity and upper arm muscle area in North African migrant women.
Objective:
To investigate the nutritional status of North African (NA) immigrant women in Italy, analysing their body size, adiposity and body image perception in comparison to Italian natives and NA residents.
Design:
The study utilized a cross-sectional design. Anthropometric traits were directly measured and a few indices were computed as proxy measures of nutritional status and adiposity. Body image perception was assessed using silhouette drawings. ANCOVA, adjusted for age, was used to compare anthropometric traits among different groups of women and the χ 2 test to analyse differences in the prevalence of nutritional status.
Setting:
Italy and North Africa (Tunisia, Morocco).
Subjects:
A sample of 433 women aged 18-60 years old: NA immigrants (n 105); Italians (n 100); Tunisians (n 104); Moroccans (n 124).
Results:
Overweight/obesity prevalence was very high in immigrants (79·8 %). Immigrants had the highest BMI value, the greatest hip circumference and mid upper-arm circumference. Their triceps skinfold thickness was significantly higher than that of Italians, but lower than that of NA residents.
Conclusions:
NA immigrant women in Italy showed a higher incidence of overweight compared with Italians and NA residents. All groups showed a preference for a thinner body in comparison to their actual bodies and the immigrants are the most dissatisfied. Immigrants remain a high-risk group for obesity. Assessment of their body composition and health risk profile should be improved by using specific anthropometric measures that are easy to collect even in the case of large migration flows.
