1. All measures used should be appropriate to the individual and their situation, taking due concern for the privacy and sensitivity concerns of the individual.
2. A variety of tests specific to the client and based on individual characteristics, needs and requirements is preferable to any one single measure.
3. Minimum measurements should include weight, height, (calculated) BMI, and waist and hip circumference (calculated WHR).
4. Measurements should be carried out using standard protocols from recognised bodies such as the Society for Anthropometric Measurements or from the anthropometric standardised reference manual.
5. The validity, reliability and interpretation of all tests carried out should be known and, if required, related to the person being measured. This is especially important for the more high tech measurements such as BIA and MR.
6. All measurement should, where possible, relate to appropriate norms within the population and ethnic group being tested. Where these are not available, ‘next best’ norms should be used with the possible inadequacies of this being explained to the client.
7. Care should be taken to ensure equivalent levels of hydration and digestion at different measurement periods (especially for BIA measures).
8. Body fat percentages should not be inferred from skinfold measures with very overfat or obese people.
9. Clients should be discouraged from weighing themselves too frequently (i.e. more than once per 1-2 week), because of me effect of fluid changes on body weight.
*73\186\4*
You must be logged in to post a comment.