Basic anthropometric measurements and derived ratios in dietary counseling: Part one

Dietary consulting is increasingly appreciated and is an integral part of diet-dependent diseases therapy worldwide. It is particularly important in preventing overweight and obesity, but also in alleviating existing metabolic disorders in patients with increased body mass. Anthropometric measurements and anthropometric indexes are not only widely used in dietary counseling, but also in basic and specialized medical care, as well as in clinical and epidemiological studies. In the first part of the article the authors present detailed characteristics of anthropometric parameters and the anthropometric indexes developed on the basis of those parameters, i.a., BMI, WHR and WHtR. They are a very important element in nutritional status assessment and estimation of associated health risks. Presentation of usefulness of BMI and its cut-off points among elderly people deserves special attention. The first part of this article is a collection of information about basic anthropometric measurements, which will facilitate their use and interpretation, which may be particularly important for young researchers, beginning a nutrition or clinical studies.