The assessment of nutritional status in children involves methods such as anthropometric measurements and growth assessment, laboratory tests, clinical manifestations, dietary surveys, and epidemiology to evaluate their nutritional condition.
Anthropometrics and Growth Assessment (A)
Detailed information is provided under the topic of physical growth assessment.
Laboratory Tests (B)
Laboratory tests provide insights into the body's storage and deficiency levels of specific nutrients. By measuring the concentrations of various nutrients, their metabolites, or other related chemical components in bodily fluids or excretions, the absorption and utilization of nutrients from food can be evaluated. Laboratory tests are highly sensitive to changes associated with nutritional disorders and play a critical role in diagnosing such conditions.
Clinical Manifestations (C)
In addition to routine physical examinations, care should be taken to observe symptoms and signs of nutrition-related disorders.
Dietary Surveys (D)
Methods of Dietary Surveys
Different methods are selected based on specific requirements.
Inquiry Method
This involves asking subjects about the foods they have recently consumed or eaten over a specified period. It includes approaches such as the dietary recall method and dietary history method. Food quantities are typically estimated using household measuring tools, food models, or food atlases. Information may be collected through face-to-face interviews, open-ended recording forms, or pre-coded questionnaires. This method is straightforward and suitable for clinical use, though the results may lack accuracy. The 24-hour recall method often requires data collection for at least two to three separate days. It is suitable for both individual and population dietary surveys and is currently one of the most widely used approaches.
Weighing Method
This involves weighing the actual amounts of different foods consumed at each meal over a period of three to seven days to calculate the average daily nutrient intake per person. It is applicable for dietary surveys of groups of children, families, and individuals.
Food Accounting Method
This method calculates food intake based on food stock and usage records. It is simpler than the weighing method but less accurate, requiring longer recording periods and similar calculations and data analyses as the weighing method. It is often used in dietary surveys of groups of children.
Chemical Analysis Method
This involves collecting daily food intake samples from subjects and performing chemical analysis in a laboratory to determine various nutrients and energy under observation. It is useful for clinical nutritional therapy research.
Dietary Evaluation
Comparison of Nutrient Intake with DRI
Energy intake is evaluated using the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) as a reference, while protein and other nutrient intake are evaluated using the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) or Adequate Intake (AI).
Proportion of Energy from Macronutrients
This evaluates the proportion of energy provided by macronutrients as a percentage of total caloric intake. High-quality protein should account for more than half of the total protein in the diet.
Energy Distribution in Meals
Balance in daily meal energy distribution is also important. Breakfast should account for 25%–30% of total daily energy, lunch for 35%–45%, snacks for 10%, and dinner for 25%–30%.
Environmental and Family Information (E)
A child’s living environment and family conditions hold significant value in assessing the nutritional status of the child.