Measurements of Nutritional Status of Newborn Infants

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Abstract
There is a need for standardization and verification of the clinical signs of dysmaturity. An attempt is made to use skinfold thickness and a height-weight ratio for such a purpose. Measurements were taken on over 200 full-term, normal appearing, newborn infants. Skinfold thickness at 4 sites was found to be a reliable measurement both with repeated measures by 1 observer and between 2 observers using written instructions, if sites and techniques were carefully defined. Skinfold thickness was correlated with birth weight, height, height-weight ratio, age in hours, a clinical scale of nutritional state, and between the four sites used. The use of such measures may prove useful.