Assessment of nutritional status

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NEET PG High-Yield: Nutritional Assessment

Nutritional assessment is a core component of community diagnosis. It is categorized into four main approaches (ABCD).

The ABCD Approach

Category Methods/Examples
Anthropometric Height, Weight, MUAC, Skinfold thickness, BMI.
Biochemical Hemoglobin, Serum Ferritin, Serum Albumin, Urinary Iodine.
Clinical Signs of deficiency (e.g., Bitot’s spots, Glossitis, Koilonychia).
Dietary 24-hour recall, Food frequency questionnaires, Dietary history.

High-Yield NEET PG Pearls:

  • MUAC: Standard screening tool for SAM in the field (cut-off < 11.5 cm for 6–59 months).
  • BMI: Calculated as Weight (kg) / Height (m^2). Essential for adult assessment.
  • Most Sensitive/Specific: Clinical examination is usually late; biochemical markers are early; anthropometry is highly reliable for population screening.
  • Growth Charts: WHO standards are the global benchmark for monitoring child development.