iodices of Nutritional Status 1. Weight for Age (WFA) Weight for age is an indicatorof presentacuteundernutrition. Weightmeasureme nts for children 0-83 months are comparecl with International Reference Standards (IRS) adopted for Filipinos (Mendoza, TS, Ocampo, ML and Barba, vc, 2003) specific for age ancl sex. Children are then classified using the following cut-off levels. The exact age in months must be known. Norma 1 : with. in :t: 2SD of median IRS Underweight (Below Normal):<-2SD of median IRS Overweight (Above Normal) : > + 2SD of median IRS For children 9 years-19 years of age a. nd adults the Body Mass Index is calculated using by dividing the weight in kilograms by the square of the the height in meters [JJMI = Weight (kg)/ Height (m)~J Ch1ssmcatio n of nutritional status for 9-19 years Normal : P15-P85 Mild underweigh t: P3-< P85 Underweight:< P3 Overweight : > P85 BMI Classification for Adults (WHO, 2000) Underweight Normal Overweigh t Obese : < 18. 5 : J8. 5-24. 9 : 25. 0-29. 9 : 2: 30 a. Hciyhl for /1. ge (!-!FA) Height for age indicates past, chronic undernutrition and a good index of stuntini:;. The height measurement is also compared with the IRS. For ch ildrcn 0-83 mon U1s the exad age is should also be calculated. The cut-off levels for classification are the same as that of the weight for age. Nonna! : :!: 2SD of median IRS Short for age : < 2SD of median IRS Tall for age : > 2SD of median TRS I,. Weigh/'for l-lci9ht (WFH) Weight for height is a sensitive indicator of current nutritional status. It distinguishes stunting (weight is height but height is below normal) and wasti11g (weight is low but height is normal). A child whose weight and height are both below normal is considered both wasted and stunted. Normal : ± 2SD of median IRS for WFH Wasted : < 2SD of median IRS for WFH Overweight: > 2S0 of median IRS for WFH 2. Diochemical Method Uiochcmical method of nutritional asse. 55ment is an obje<. i. ive method of nutritional assessmen t however, it is expensive and not all laboratories may :33. 9 