Development and Application of a Pediatric Anthropometric Evaluation System.

Children with developmental disabilities are at increased nutritional risk because of feeding problems, abnormal levels of physical activity, and altered weight and growth patterns. Children with physical disabilities are often more difficult to measure because of muscular contractures, spasms, scoliosis, and the presence of splints, braces, or wheelchair accessories. In addition, body weights may be difficult to obtain for heavier children with limited access to wheelchair scales. The purpose of this project was to produce a package of anthropometric measurements easier to use in children with physical disabilities but still applicable to able-bodied children, and computer software to generate growth charts. The project included the development of growth charts for each anthropometric measurement, using data from the Coquitlam Growth Study (921 children aged six to 18) and the Sunny Hill Growth Study (567 children aged one to 5.9). The custom computer software allows serial plotting of a child's measurements on growth charts, permitting comparative assessment of growth and muscle and adipose tissue development. The resultant Sunny Hill Anthropometric Pediatric Evaluation System (SHAPES) provides a tool for nutritional assessment and monitoring after intervention. The use of SHAPES is illustrated with a case study of a child who represented a challenge to traditional nutritional evaluation.