Height and Weight
Ht & Wt
Height and Weight
• Used to determine whether a pt is
over/underweight
• Either of these can indicate a dz
• Height/weight charts are averages** A 10% deviation is considered normal**
Performed routinely with hospital admission,
general physical exam, long term care facility
Infants
• Measure Ht, wt, head circumference, chest
circumference
• Why? Growth is rapid
• Measurements are recorded on a National Center
for Health Statistics (NCHS) growth graph-allows MD to compare growth to average
percentiles of other children the same age
• Abnormal growth could indicate nutritional
deficiencies or genetic diseases
• Head circumference
– Brain development
– Any head circumference that measures above the
95th percentile usually indicates hydrocephalus
(fluid around the brain> leads to intracranial
pressure> brain damage)
– May be caused by abnormal development of
ventricles, bacterial meningitis, tumors
• Microencephaly (small brain)
– Can lead to mental retardation
– Can be caused by congenital defect, infections
during pregnancy, premature closure of fontanels,
drug/alcohol abuse during pregnancy (fetal
alcohol syndrome), genetic defects
• Chest circumference
– Overdevelopment/underdevelopment of the
heart/lungs
– From birth to 1 year > head circumference is
usually greater than chest circumference
– 1-2 years- equal
(Chest circumference is also measured in adults with
COPD to measure dz progression)
• Frequent weights are usually done with pt’s
with hormone disorders (DM, thyroid)
digestive disorders, HTN, fluid retention,
cancer pt’s
Daily Weights
• Pt’s with edema d/t heart and kidney disease
• Remember these points with daily weights
– Use same scale each day
– Balance scale before weighing pt
– Weigh pt at the same time each day (if possible
before food/liquids have been consumed)
– Pt needs to be wearing same amount of clothing
each day
– Ask pt to void to empty the bladder
Weight is recorded as pounds and ounces or as
kilograms.
To convert kilograms to pounds:
kg x 2.2= lbs
To convert pounds to kilograms:
lbs divided by 2.2= kg
Procedure for Measuring Weight
• Prepare scale- Move both weights to zero position; Scale
will be balanced if the end of the balance bar swings freely
between the upper and lower guides
• Have pt remove shoes, jackets, purses, heavy objects in
pockets
• Assist pt onto scale- Pt should stand unassisted, with feet in
center of platform and slightly apart *Watch pt to prevent
falls*
• Help pt off scale
• Weight is recorded as pounds and ounces or as kilograms
• ** If an adult pt cannot stand on scale– USE a bed or
wheelchair scale
Procedure for Measuring Height
• Have pt stand on scale with BACK to the scale
• Pt should stand as erect as possible; look
straight ahead to keep head level
• Move the measuring bar down until it touches
top of pt’s head
• Read the measurement in inches or
centimeters (can convert to feet and inches)
• Help pt off scale; watch closely to prevent falls
Measuring weight for infant
• Prepare scale- place a towel or scale paper on
scale to protect infant from shock of cold metal
and pathogens
• Balance the scale- balance bar should swing
freely
• Parent undress infant- sometimes an undershirt is
left on infant- ?diaper?
• Place infant on scale *Keep one hand on infant
while adjusting the scales*
• Make sure you are not touching the infant when
you are reading weight
Measuring Height for infant
• Place infant on flat surface- keep one hand on
infant and use other hand to reach
• Place the zero mark of the measuring tape/bar
at the infant’s head; Straighten the infant’s
leg/legs and measure to the heel
• If infant is lying on examination table papermark the paper at the infant’s head and heelthen measure the marked area
Measuring Head Circumference on
infant
• Hold the zero mark of the tape measure
against the infant’s forehead just above the
eyebrows
• Bring tape measure around the infant’s headjust above the ears, over the occipital bone at
the back of the head, and back to forehead to
meet the zero mark
• Pull tape snug to compress the hair, but not
too tight
Measuring Chest Circumference on
infant
• Lay infant flat on back
• Hold zero mark of the tape at the middle of
sternum; wrap tape measure under axillary
area around to meet
• Tape should be at nipple level of chest
• Read measurement after infant exhales or
between respirations