Table 1.

Commonly used anthropometric indicators

Anthropometric indicator	Common expression	Use
Weight-for-age	WAZ <−2 = underweight	Weight is strongly related to height as well as to nutrient intake and health status; thus, low WAZ is a composite measure of stunting and thinness
Weight-for-height	WHZ <−2 = wasted	Measure of acute malnutrition, usually as a consequence of food insecurity or severe disease
Length-for-age	LAZ <−2 = stunted	Measure of linear growth in 0- to 1.99-year-olds
Height-for-age	HAZ <−2 = stunteda	Measure of linear growth in ≥2-year-olds
Body mass index	BMIZ	Measure of the degree of leanness or overweight
Mid-upper arm circumference	MUAC <115 mm = severe acute malnutrition	Measure of acute malnutrition, especially in emergency settings
Head circumference	HCZ	A measure of brain growth; deceleration of which is spared except in instances of severe malnutrition or cerebral injury or disease

BMIZ, body mass index z-score; HAZ, height-for-age z-score; HCZ, head circumference z-score; LAZ, length-for-age z-score; MUAC, mid-upper arm circumference; WAZ, weight-for-age z-score; WHZ, weight-for-height z-score. ^a In this paper, as in many others, for convenience we refer to LAZ and HAZ as HAZ.