Is a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) of 15.5 considered adequate?

MUAC of 15.5 cm: Interpretation and Clinical Significance

A MUAC of 15.5 cm falls within the normal range for most adults but requires interpretation based on your age, sex, and clinical context—for children under 5 years, this measurement would indicate adequate nutrition, while for adults it should be compared against sex- and age-specific percentile charts.

Context-Dependent Interpretation

For Children (6-59 months)

• A MUAC of 15.5 cm (155 mm) is well above malnutrition thresholds and indicates adequate nutritional status 1
• Severe acute malnutrition is defined as MUAC <115 mm, while moderate malnutrition ranges from 115-135 mm 1, 2
• Your measurement of 155 mm places you far above these cutoffs, indicating no acute malnutrition 2, 3
• The World Health Organization recommends MUAC as a reliable alternative to weight measurements, particularly when fluid retention or other conditions make weight unreliable 1

For School-Aged Children (5-17 years)

• Reference values vary significantly by age and sex in this population 4
• For children 5-9 years, a MUAC <16 cm indicates thinness, while >20 cm suggests overnutrition 4
• For children 10-14 years, thinness is defined as <18.5 cm, and overnutrition as >25.5 cm 4
• A measurement of 15.5 cm in a young school-aged child (5-9 years) would be at the lower end of normal but not necessarily indicating malnutrition 4

For Adults

• Adult MUAC interpretation requires comparison to sex- and age-specific percentile charts 5
• For adult women aged 18-74 years, the mean MUAC is 22.2 cm, with the 5th percentile at 18.4 cm 5
• For adult men aged 18-74 years, the mean MUAC is 28.0 cm, with the 5th percentile at 23.8 cm 5
• A MUAC of 15.5 cm in an adult would fall well below the 5th percentile, indicating significant muscle wasting and potential protein-energy malnutrition 5

Clinical Implications by Population

If You Are an Adult

• Your measurement suggests severe muscle depletion requiring nutritional assessment and intervention 5
• MUAC below the 5th percentile indicates inadequate protein reserves and warrants evaluation for underlying causes of malnutrition 5
• This should prompt assessment of dietary intake, underlying medical conditions, and consideration for nutritional support 5

If You Are a Child Under 5 Years

• Your measurement indicates adequate nutrition with no need for therapeutic feeding intervention 1, 2
• Continue routine growth monitoring to ensure sustained adequate nutrition 1

If You Are a School-Aged Child

• Interpretation depends on your exact age and sex, but 15.5 cm may indicate borderline thinness in younger school-aged children 4
• Consider nutritional counseling if this measurement is at or below age-specific cutoffs 4

Important Caveats

Measurement accuracy is critical—MUAC should be measured at the midpoint between the acromion and olecranon processes using a non-stretchable tape, with the arm relaxed and hanging freely 5

Single measurements have limitations—serial measurements over time provide better assessment of nutritional trends than isolated values 1

MUAC should be interpreted alongside other indicators including clinical examination, weight-for-height (when applicable), and laboratory indices when available 1, 6

Gender and age significantly affect interpretation—always compare your measurement to appropriate reference standards for your demographic group 5, 4