Ucl discovery is ucls open access repository showcasing and providing access to ucl research outputs from all ucl disciplines. Mid upper arm circumference has been studied as a tool for estimating someones bmi in a situation when its not possible to measure a persons height but there doesnt appear to be any. Weight kilogramsheight meters 2. For nhanes participants using measured height and weight values as follows. While severely wasted children are at high risk of mortality muac and whz do not always identify the same population of children as having sam. If muac is 235 cm bmi is likely to be 20 kgm2.
Bmi criteria are used to screen for weight categories. Ask the subject to let arm hang loose and measure around the upper arm at the mid point making sure that the tape measure is snug but not tight. A measure below 235 centimeters or 925 inches indicates that the person may be underweight or borderline underweight with a bmi of 20 or lower. The objective of this study was to assess whether there was any benefit to identify malnourished children with a high risk of death to combine these two diagnostic criteria. Screening for overweight using mid upper arm circumference muac among children younger than two years in the eastern cape south africa. Diagnosis of sam is done using the mid upper arm circumference muac or weight for height z score whz as recommended by the world health organization who 6.
With the upper arm held parallel to the side of the body. However there are reports from several countries that the two criteria identify different children. Obtaining whz involves weight and height measurements and plotting these values on growth charts making it a lengthy and difficult process. World health organization who recommends that either mid upper arm circumference muac or weight for height z scores whz are used to assess acute malnutrition prevalence. Weight for height z score whz and mid upper arm circumference muac are two independent anthropometric indicators for diagnosing and admitting children with severe acute malnutrition sam for treatment. Underweight bmi values 185 normal.
Measure the distance between the bony protrusion on the shoulder acromion and the point of the elbow olecranon process. The world health organization and unicef define non oedematous severe acute malnutrition sam either by a mid upper arm circumference muac less than 115 mm or by a weight for height z score whz less than 3. South african journal of clinical nutrition. Measure around this midpoint using a tape measure pulled snug but not tight. An upper arm circumference of 32 centimeters or 126 inches indicates a bmi of 30 or greater or obesity.
Gallery of Mid Upper Arm Circumference And Weight For Height
