Table 1.

Differences Between NHANES and HCS Protocols for Collecting Anthropometric Measurements

Topic	NHANES Protocol	HCS Protocol
Number of staff taking waist measurements	Two	One
Ensuring tape measure is level	Mirrors are available to provide a better view of participant	FDC looks from another angle to ensure tape is level
Type of clothing worn by participant	Disposable slippers, shirt, and pants	Participants were asked to wear a t-shirt and shorts but could refuse to change clothing; FDC records what type of clothing was worn for the measurements
Equipment for height and weight measurement	Standardized electronic equipment installed in Mobile Examination Center	Portable equipment necessary Height: ShorrBoard Infant/Child/Adult Height Measuring Board w/ Auto-Lock Head/Footpiece Weight: Seca 874 electronic personal scale
Participant refuses to have skin marked for waist circumference measurement	No procedure specified	If the child or caregiver refused mark, child was asked to place his/her finger on the measurement site
Participant refuses measurement or refuses to remove shoes	Recorded as Could Not Obtain	Obtain self-reported weight (adult) or proxy weight (child)

NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; HCS, Healthy Communities Study