Early Detection of Malnutrition and Assessment of Therapy

John Pietsch of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the U.S. proposes to develop rugged, compact, easy-to-use bioelectrical impedance analysis instruments based on a smart phone platform to assess nutritional status in mothers, infants, and children. These instruments will allow minimally trained health workers to detect malnutrition prior to symptoms and determine the effectiveness of nutritional interventions.