The efficacy of arm circumference as a substitute for weight in assessment of protein-calorie malnutrition.

The efficacy of arm circumference in identifying children suffering from different degrees of undernutrition was studied on 605 rural pre-school children, using standards for height, weight and arm circumference obtained on a group of well-to-do healthy children. The results indicated that there existed 57 per cent and 73 per cent agreement in the assessment using arm circumference on one hand, and weight and weight for height respectively on the other. Some children, who were severely undernourished on the basis of weight for age, weight for height and muscle circumference were classified as normal based on arm circumference.