Nutritional Status, Feeding Recommendation, and Counseling

• Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond (WHO).

Direct methods of nutritional assessment:

• A: Anthropometric measurements.
• B: Biochemical (laboratory) findings.
• C: Clinical methods.
• D: Dietary evaluation methods.

Nutritional Status

Growth Chart example

The CDC Growth Charts are the most commonly used indicator to measure the size and growth patterns of children and teens in the United States.

Weight Status Category	Percentile Range
Underweight	Less than the 5th percentile
Normal or Healthy Weight	5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile
Overweight	85th to less than the 95th percentile
Obese	95th percentile or greater

Further Reading

• Clinical assessment of nutritional status (PDF)
• WHO: Managing malnutrition (PDF)