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There are several body measurements and combinations of body measurements that may be useful in assessing the nutritional status of adolescents. Measurements for use in humanitarian emergencies must use inexpensive equipment, be simple to teach to health workers, and be easy to interpret in the field. In addition, the ideal index used to assess adolescent nutritional status in emergencies would allow compensation for differences between the survey and reference populations in age, sexual development, and ethnicity. The measurements most commonly considered for use in emergencies include weight, height and MUAC. Skinfold thickness may also be a useful measure of body protein and fat stores, but is not considered useful in emergencies as it is difficult to obtain accurate measurements, particularly in emergencies.