Measuring Height and Weight
Staff Inservice
Use: Nutrition staff members to deliver this inservice to nurses, nursing assistants,
and kitchen staff. Invite everyone to measure their height and weight as an
(optional) activity.
Introduction: Accurate height and weight measurements are critical for RD’s, DTR’s,
and CDM’s to complete their assessments of patients and set the stage for nutrition
interventions. They are also necessary for long-term evaluation of a resident’s health
status because changes in weight can indicate other medical changes. Weights and
heights should be obtained as soon as possible after admission to a medical facility and at
regular periods as specified by a facility’s policy. Heights and weights should be
measured whenever possible; facilities should not rely on the memories of patients or
families for this information. Measuring height can be difficult on bedbound patients or
those with contractures but alternate methods of obtaining height are available.
Quick reading to review the topic:
Collins, Nancy. Measuring Height and Weight. Article in Advances in Skin and Wound
Care, March/April 2002. Available at
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3977/is_200203/ai_n9054246. Accessed
May 1, 2006.
Objectives:
1. Staff will understand the importance of accurate height and weight measurements
to the delivery of medical care for a patient
2. Staff will know alternative methods for measuring height in a bedbound patient
3. Staff will be aware of the correct method to obtain weight on a patient
Outline:
I. Importance of accurate height and weight measurements
a. Height is used to calculate a patient’s Ideal Body Weight (IBW) and Body Mass
Index (BMI). An inaccurate height results in an inaccurate IBW and BMI
b. Weight is used to calculate a patients Body Mass Index (BMI). Admission weight
is used as an indicator of overall health status and used as a benchmark against
which to evaluate weight changes when they occur
c. Medication doses are often prescribed based on weight. An inaccurate weight
could result in an overdose or too low dose of medications.
d. Height and weight are used to calculate a patient’s calorie, protein, and fluid
needs. If data is inaccurate then these calculations will also be inaccurate.
e. Inaccurate heights and weights can be cited in facility inspections as well as
lawsuits.
Measuring Heights and Weights Inservice 1
II. Obtaining height measurement
a. Use a measuring stick fixed against a wall. Ask patient to stand with his/her
back to the wall and feet against the wall. Resident should be measured
without shoes.
b. Use the measuring rod on a platform scale. Resident should be measured
without shoes.
b. Supine measurement: Position the client against a bed without pillows or
wedges. Lay as flat as possible with body and limbs straight. Mark the surface
at the tip of the head and base of the heels. Move the patient and measure the
length of the flat surface.
c. Arm span measurement: Using a cloth measuring tape, have the patient extend
one arm out. Measure from the notch in the sternum to the tip of the fingertips
and double. This is an ESTIMATE of height but may be the only way to
obtain height for some patients.
III. Obtaining weight measurements:
a. Use type of scale appropriate for resident’s weight, medical condition, and
ability to ambulate.
b. Balance the scale to zero before weighing.
c. Position the client as comfortably as possible whether standing, in a
wheelchair, or in a sling.
d. Record the weight. If it is not close to resident’s previous weight, re-zero the
scale and reweigh.
e. If using wheelchair weight, subtract the weight of the chair from the weight
obtained.
IV. Important points
a. Weigh each patient at roughly the same time of day and similar weight of
clothing for each weighing.
b. Use the same scale and have the same person weigh patient for each weighing.
c. Be aware of casts, full catheter or colostomy bags, splints, and other devices
that can affect weight and note if those items are present.
Activity:
Ask for a volunteer. Measure the height of that person using all 4 methods discussed in
this inservice. Discuss results with participants.
Measuring Heights and Weights Inservice 2
Measuring Height and Weight
Pre and Post Test
Name:___________________________________
Date:____________________________________
Department:______________________________
1. True or false: A patient’s admission weight is not important to anyone
but the dietary department.
2. Which method would be the best way to measure the height of a man
that can walk freely around the medical facility?
a. Supine measurement
c. Arm span measurement
d. Standing against a fixed measuring stick
e. Ask the patient what his height is
3. True or false: If a patient weighs 10 pounds less than he did when he was
last weighed, he should be reweighed before his weight is recorded.
4. Which of the following can cause a patient’s weight to vary from one
weighing to another:
a. Removal of a cast
b. A full catheter bag
c. Using a different wheelchair than usual
d. All of the above
5. Which method will not work to measure the height of a bedbound
woman?
a. Supine measurement
b. Arm span measurement
c. Standing against a fixed measuring stick
d. Both a and b
Measuring Heights and Weights Inservice 3
Answer key
1. False
2. d. Standing against a fixed measuring stick
3. True
4. d. All of the above
5. d. Both a and b.
Measuring Heights and Weights Inservice 4