Automatic WHZ calculation in excel database

I remember I was using an excel sheet to calculate the WHZ in one of my research study at graduate level. I used the reference weight for a range of specific height from the publication of A. Roberto Frisancho .

I would have to sort out my data by the heights (Ascending or descending) and input the reference weight and use a formula of Z-score (Actual weight - Reference Weight / Standard Deviation) which would determine the WHZ in a separate column.

You can get the reference weight and SD from the same source for every specific range of heights. The publication has also classified reference weight and height based on age.

In order to create an automated WHZ sheet, you need to apply a condition on the height column and define the reference weights and SD in that condition.

However, it is worth mentioning here, we always use WHO references for the CMAM activities. I have never seen any such classification of references based on age and height in WHO's publications unless they have a new publication which I am not aware of.

Hope this answers your question.

Just curious to find out why one would want to do this given that ENA is easy to use for such things.

Hi Nicole,

I would advise againts following Tariq's suggestion for z-score calculation, as the 2006 WHO Growth Standards use the LMS method for the generation of z-scores, as to correct for the fact that anthropometric data is never normally distributed. By using the formula (observed value - mean reference value / standard deviation of the given length/height distribution) you will be generating incorrect z-scores that would affect your CMAM programming.

Anonymous 730 has correctly suggested the use of ENA software, but if you need your data to be in an excel database, you will need to use the ENA software to export it into that format and copy it into your database.

An alternative method would be to use the LMSgrowth excel add-in that would allow you to generate the z-score values, using the 2006 WHO growth standards, directly into your excel database. The convenience of using this add-in is that your database can be automated to calculate z-scores following data inputation; and the add-in can be use in a Windows or Mac OS environment, which if remember correctly, is an ENA software limitation.

I hope the above is useful.

I am curious if there has been any developments in this area, since these replies? I also thought that a way to do it in excel is a good way to combine other data, well suited to excel, with the Z scirrs