Anthropometry and body composition science are supported by a number of complementary systems, organisations, and resources, each designed to answer different questions. Some focus on how measurements are collected, others on how growth is assessed, while others provide population surveillance data or large-scale research datasets. Understanding the purpose, strengths, and limitations of each is essential for selecting the most appropriate framework for practice, education, research, or public health applications.
The five systems highlighted below represent some of the most widely used and influential resources in anthropometry and body composition science. Together, they provide a strong foundation for understanding measurement standardisation, growth assessment, population health monitoring, and research-based discovery.
| System | Primary Purpose | Population | Main Output | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISAK | Anthropometry accreditation and standardisation | Practitioners | Standardised measurements and competency accreditation | Measurement quality and reliability |
| NHANES | National health and nutrition surveillance | U.S. population | Anthropometry, DXA, health and nutrition data | Nationally representative surveillance |
| WHO Growth Standards | Global growth assessment | Children from birth to 19 years | Growth standards and z-score classifications | International growth monitoring |
| CDC Growth Monitoring | U.S. child growth assessment | Children and adolescents 2-20 years | Growth references and percentile classifications | Clinical growth assessment in the U.S. |
| UK Biobank | Biomedical and population health research | UK adults aged 40-69 years at recruitment | Anthropometry, imaging, genetics, biomarkers and health outcomes | Large-scale prospective research |
ISAK
ISAK is fundamentally different from the other systems because it is not a dataset, surveillance programme, or growth reference. Instead, it is an international accreditation framework designed to improve the quality, reliability, and comparability of anthropometric measurements through standardised training and competency assessment. Its focus is the anthropometrist rather than the population being measured.
NHANES: Monitoring Population Health
NHANES is a national surveillance programme conducted in the United States. It combines anthropometry, body composition, laboratory testing, health examinations, nutrition assessment, and health outcomes within a nationally representative sample. NHANES provides reference data and population health statistics that underpin much of modern obesity, body composition, and epidemiological research.
WHO Growth Standards
The WHO Growth Standards were developed from healthy children living under favourable environmental conditions and describe how children should grow under optimal circumstances. They are widely used internationally for assessing growth, nutritional status, stunting, wasting, and overweight in children and adolescents.
CDC Growth Monitoring
CDC Growth Charts are growth references based on measurements collected from U.S. children. Unlike WHO standards, they are descriptive rather than prescriptive and are primarily used within U.S. healthcare. They provide percentile-based assessment tools for monitoring height, weight, and BMI from ages 2 to 20 years.
UK Biobank
UK Biobank is a large-scale prospective research cohort rather than a surveillance system or growth monitoring framework. It combines anthropometry, body composition, imaging, genetics, biomarkers, lifestyle data, and linked health records in approximately 500,000 participants. Its purpose is to improve understanding of disease mechanisms, risk factors, and health outcomes across the lifespan.
Bringing the Systems Together
Together, these five systems provide a comprehensive foundation for understanding modern anthropometry and body composition science. ISAK focuses on how measurements are collected and standardised, WHO and CDC focus on how growth is assessed and interpreted, NHANES focuses on population-level surveillance and health monitoring, and UK Biobank focuses on long-term research and disease discovery.
Understanding where each system fits within the broader landscape of human measurement science helps practitioners, educators, and researchers select the most appropriate methods, datasets, standards, and frameworks for their specific objectives, while also appreciating how these systems complement one another.