BMI might be the best indicator for nutritional status,not only for adults but also for children!

BMI  have certain drawbacks ( can't distinguish between fat and muscle) still  it is the BEST method to assess nutritional status.

BMI is the easiest way to assess nutritional status; however, it has its own problems. If you need to assess nutritional status in a research study I recommend using blood indicators such as pre-albumin and albumin.

I agree with Basiri, adding that the BMI is useful in population studies or as an orientation data in the assessment of nutritional status in clinical practice but never alone.

  In the clinic, the implicit risk of malnutrition in the disease, its treatment and complications varies widely within hours, which invalidates anthropometric methods for monitoring short-term nutritional risk.

I advise Clinical laboratory parameters such as Albumin, Total Cholesterol and Total Lymphocytes, as CONUT

BMI is an acceptable indicator for body weight in healthy adults, but other anthropocentric measurements  can be added, such as waist, hip, calf, mid upper arm  circumferences>

Body composition to find the muscle and fat masses with other parameters, using BIA techniques or skin fold, both are valid for healthy adults.

BMI calculation or Anthropometric measurement is one of the technique to assess nutritional status.  Others are clinical examination, bio chemical evaluation, functional assessment, assessment of dietary intake, vital and health statistics, ecological studies.

It all depends on your study question to choose from these. Every one has its own pros and cons.

Newer anthropometric indices such as "A Body Shape Index" (ABSI) or "Body Adiposity Index" (BAI) (both include body circumferences) have been shown to correlate better with % body fat than BMI in single patient populations; however, large-scale studies are needed before firmer conclusions can be reached.

Nutritional status is a broad term. A most basic and fundamental component of nutritional status is obesity and body composition. Below is a summary of the commonly used indicators of obesity and adiposity:

1. BMI: As others have pointed out, BMI is an easy-to-obtain and inexpensive indicator of obesity status for nutritional status assessment among adults. Despite its strong correlation with body fat levels, its limitation is well recognized given that it cannot distinguish between fat and fat free mass. Also, at a given BMI, significant gender and racial/ethnic variation exists with respect to body fat or more broadly, body composition. Nonetheless, a rich body of literature have shown that BMI can be used to predict increased risk of chronic disease and mortality. 

2. Waist circumference & waist-to-hip ratio: These two measures are also easy-to-measure and inexpensive, which can be used to assess central or abdominal obesity. These two indicators also have good correlation with body fat and disease risk among adults. However, waist and hip circumferences could be difficult to measure and less accurate among individuals with a 35+ (kg/m2) BMI. 

3. Skindfold thickness: The strengths include its convenience, low cost, and portability of the equipment. However, skindfold thickness may not be as accurate and reproducible as other body composition measurements. Also, it is difficult to measure among obese individuals with a BMI of 35 or higher. 

4. Other body composition assessment methods: 

    - Bioelectric impedance (BIA)

    - Underwater weighing (densitometry)

    - Air-displacement plethysmography: BodPod

    - Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA or DXA)

    - Imaging techniques: Computerized Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

For these "relatively advanced" body composition assessment tools, this review article may be helpful regarding their respective strengths and limitations: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2741386/

Notably, it is important to recognize that there is no single "best" indicator of nutritional status in adults. Selection of the indicator(s) to be used in a particular research (or field) setting would depend on the research question, outcomes of interest, cost, feasibility,  subject burden, study population, etc. Hope the information above could be somewhat helpful.

We have many indicatos  to know the  nutritional status. The BMI is easy to obtain but is not the best  You must analize your objetives and technical conditions ir orfer to select the best, But Many authors  used BMI in orther to know nutritional status.

BMI is no indication of proper nutrition. Many people who are in the acceptable range eat rather poorly. There are those in the above range who eat well and exercise regularly. BMI is better than, "This height should equal this weight."

What is an indication of proper nutrition is radiant skin, hair, eyes, brain activity, and increased energy.

Two common patterns of body fat distribution were associated with individual’s health than their relative quantity of fat mass (Aucouturier et al., 2009):

1. Android, “apple-shaped” or upper body obesity: Excess fat located in the central abdominal area.

2. Gynoid, “pear-shaped” or lower body obesity: Fat distributed in the lower extremities around the hips or gluteal region; more commonly in females.

Android obesity is related to a higher risk for hypertension, insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia and coronary heart disease (Harvey et al., 2011) while gynoid obesity is associated with enhanced metabolic and examined predictors of different distributions of fat mass (Stults-Kolehmainen et al., 2013).

Android fat distribution is expressed by waist to hip ratio of more than 0.8 for women and more than 1.0 for men. In contrast, waist to hip ratio of gynoid distribution defined as less than 0.8 for women and less than 1.0 for men (Harvey et al., 2011).

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) technology assess regional body fat distribution measuring all fat in the viscera and subcutaneous areas; it can be used to calculate body fat patterning for the android, gynoid, arm, trunk and legs regions (Aucouturier et al., 2009; Stults-Kolehmainen et al., 2013).

Dear Maik Albalik,

please read these articles:

  Tomczak A., Bertrandt J., Kłos A., Bertrandt B. (2014) Assessment of physical fitness, physical capacity and nutritional status of soldiers serving in the Polish Special Forces unit “GROM”. Probl Hig Epidemiol 2014,95(1): 86-90.

 Tomczak A., Bertrandt J., Kłos A., Kłos K. (2016) Influence of Military Training and Standardized Nutrition in Military Unit on Soldiers’ Nutritional Status and Physical Fitness. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research September 29. DOI: 10.1519/JSRC.0000000000000716.

Best wishes,

Andrzej TOMCZAK

What is "nutritional status'? The levels of nutrition are Healthy, Unhealthy, and somewhere in between.

If you want to determine whether an adult is eating properly,  a log of daily intake will provide that information. 

BMI began to be used by the military when many members were considered "overweight" and put on dietary restrictions when they were muscular not fat. Muscle weighs more. 

Please could you tell me appropriate measurements used to assess nutritional status of Pregnant mothers?

A useful / quick reference with reliable & accurate basic information regarding the nutrient needs of pregnant women;

http://pin.it/GuRe5UH

(Copy and paste link into browser--it is not hyperlinked.)