Anthropometry methods are, first of all, a set of measuring measures aimed at determining the compliance of a person's physical development with norms, provided that a he althy lifestyle is maintained, and sufficient physical activity is available. Anthropometric methods are based mainly on the accounting of morphological external and quantitative indicators. However, there are also a number of studies aimed at determining the parameters of internal organs and indicators of body systems.
Why is anthropometry required?
Assessing others, we wonder why people are so different from each other in a number of external parameters. The reason for the presence of characteristic differences lies not only in genetic inclinations, but also in the worldview, features of thinking and character.
Human existence involves the flow of successive processes of maturation, maturity and aging. Development and growth areinterdependent, closely related processes.
The anthropometry method is an effective tool for determining the compliance of certain developmental parameters with the norms characteristic of a particular age period of a person. Based on this, the main purpose of the method lies in identifying the developmental features of both a child and an adult sexually mature person.
Anthropometric research factors
The continuous flow of metabolic processes in the body, the conversion of energy becomes a determining factor that affects the characteristics of development. As the method of anthropometry shows, the rate of change in circumference, mass and other parameters of the body in certain periods of human formation is not identical. However, this can be judged visually, without resorting to scientific research. It is enough to remember yourself in preschool, youth and adulthood.
Indicators of body weight, height, increase in the volume of certain parts of the body, proportions are part of the program inherent in each of us from birth. In the presence of optimal conditions for the development of the organism, all these indicators change in a certain sequence. However, there are many factors that can affect not only the violation of the sequence of development, but also lead to the appearance of irreversible changes of a negative nature. Highlight here:
- External factors - social conditions of existence, improper intrauterine development, lack of rational nutrition, non-compliance with the work regimeand recreation, the presence of bad habits, environmental factors.
- Internal factors - the presence of serious diseases, negative heredity.
Fundamentals of Anthropometric Research
The basics of the anthropometric method is a set of scientific studies on measuring the parameters of the human body, which originated in the middle of the last century, when scientists became interested in the patterns of variability of individual anthropometric indicators.
Considering anthropometric data, for example, the length of the body and limbs, features of growth, changes in mass, transformation of the circumference of body parts, it becomes possible to visually assess the norm of human physical development.
Anthropometry allows you to get a general idea about physical development. Get these representations in the process of performing several basic measurements:
- body length;
- body weight;
- chest girth.
Conditions for anthropometry
Anthropometry methods are measurements based on the use of adjusted, proven measuring mechanisms. Here, centimeter tapes, scales, height meters, dynamometers, etc. are most often used.
Anthropometric studies are usually performed on an empty stomach in the morning. In this case, the subjects should be dressed in light shoes and clothes. In order for the anthropometric assessment to be as close to reality as possible, careful observance of the rules is required.measurements.
Analysis of the compliance of the necessary indicators of physical development with specific standards are the most important elements on which anthropometry is based. The research template allows you to identify risk factors, signs of abnormal development and the presence of certain diseases. Therefore, the correct assessment of the results of anthropometry can contribute to the establishment of a direction towards a he althy lifestyle and he althy development.
Below is a template for anthropometry in kindergarten:
| Surname, name of the child | He alth group | Height | Weight | |||
| Autumn | Spring | Autumn | Spring | |||
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | ||||||
|
3 |
||||||
The template is filled with data for each pupil of a certain group of kindergarten. Here are columns with the child's FI, information about the he alth group, data on height and weight for individual seasons.
Body length measurement
The most common procedure is the anthropometry of children. It is carried out subject to the presence of a whole complex of measuring instruments. Growth indicators are measured in a standing position. For this, specialized stadiometers are used. Examinedis placed on the platform of the device, leaning back against the measuring stand in a natural vertical position. A horizontal sliding bar is applied to the child's head without excessive pressure, the position of which corresponds to a certain gradation on the measuring scale.
It is extremely important that children's anthropometry be carried out in the first half of the day, because in the late afternoon, a person's height on average decreases by about 1-2 centimeters. At the root of the phenomenon lies the presence of natural fatigue, a decrease in the tone of the muscular apparatus, compaction of the cartilaginous vertebrae, as well as flattening of the foot as a result of stress during walking.
A number of genetic factors, age and sex differences, and he alth status are reflected in human body length indicators. Growth can either correspond to a person’s age or differ significantly from an acceptable norm. So, insufficient body length in accordance with certain age limits is called dwarfism, and a noticeable excess of growth is called gigantism.
Measuring mass
Anthropometry of children and adults when measuring weight is carried out using special floor scales. When measuring weight, the permissible error is considered to be a deviation from the real indicators by no more than 50 g.
Compared to body length, weight is quite unstable and can change due to a wide range of factors. For example, the weight fluctuation of an average person per day is about 1-1.5kg.
Anthropometric determination of human somatotype
There are separate somatotypes, which are determined by anthropometry. Templates for kindergarten, elementary and higher educational institutions, as well as for persons of sexually mature age, make it possible to distinguish mesosomatic, microscopic and macroscopic somatotypes. An individual is assigned to one of the specified somatotypes based on the sum of the scale values when measuring weight, body length and chest circumference.
Somatotype is most often determined by anthropometry in kindergarten. It is at the initial stages of development that the most reliable results can be obtained that correspond to the characteristics of a particular type of body structure. So, with a total of up to 10 points, according to the above parameters, the structure of the child's body is referred to as a microscopic type. The sum from 11 to 15 points indicates the mesosomatic structure. Accordingly, a high score from 16 to 21 indicates the macrosomatic type of the child's body structure.
Determining the degree of harmonious development
It is possible to declare the harmonious development of the child's body structure based on the results of anthropometric studies only if the difference in mass, chest circumference and body length does not exceed one. If the average statistical difference between the indicated indicators is two or more, then the development of the child's body is considered disharmonious.
Technique for performing anthropometric studies
Currently, a rather simple technique is used, withthrough which anthropometry is performed. Templates for Kindergarten and Elementary Schools allow you to quickly complete surveys to obtain results with little margin of error.
Usually, anthropometric studies of the structure of the child are carried out by nurses. However, as in the case of other scientific methods, anthropometry requires certain conditions to be met, the presence of which, along with special skills, ensures the accuracy and correctness of the results.
The main conditions for technically correct anthropometry are:
- conducting research according to a unified methodology for all subjects;
- performing measuring activities by one specialist using the same technical base;
- conducting studies at the same time for all subjects, for example, in the morning on an empty stomach;
- The subject should wear a minimum of clothing (light underpants or cotton clothing is usually acceptable).
In the end
Anthropometric studies are of particular importance, in particular when examining children, as they allow timely identification of patterns of child development in accordance with certain age and physical requirements. Moreover, the results of anthropometric studies give an idea not only about the rate of development of body parameters, but can also tell about the beginnings of certain diseases.
During the anthropometricresearch, it is important not to forget about the universality of the values of body parameters. Until recently, the assessment of a child's he alth was often carried out based on the compliance of height and body weight with tabular requirements. However, this approach is fundamentally wrong. In particular, a whole group of factors, such as body type, heredity, etc., is reflected in a sharp change in body weight. That is why one should not draw decisive conclusions about the state of he alth based on anthropometry, because only special tests aimed at identifying a specific disease can confirm existing assumptions.
