Table 3.

ethods to detect and analyze nutritional status and alterations in the pediatric oncology population

Methods	Screening	Comments
Body weight	Daily, weekly	Alone; no information of nutritional status
Height/length	Daily, weekly	Alone; no information of nutritional status
Head circumference	Monthly	Especially in infants under 3 y; brain development
BMI	Biannually	Body weight (kg) divided by height in meters squared; inaccurate
Body composition tools	Monthly
Bioelectrical impedance		Rapid, easy, inexpensive, portable but sensitive to hydration and temperature
Dual X-ray absorptiometry		Accurate, but exposure to radiation
Isotope dilution method		Expensive
Energy expenditure	Weekly, monthly	Determine noninvasive resting energy expenditure.
Indirect calorimetry		Provide understanding of energy and substrate requirements
Stool analysis	Weekly, monthly	Analyses of carbohydrates and protein stool losses.
		Determination of energy losses using bomb-calorimetry