This comprehensive text is the first to provide a detailed discussion of dietary, anthropometric, laboratory, and clinical nutritional assessment procedures used in both hospitals and communities. Offering an international perspective it covers the scientific basis, advantages, limitations, and applicability of different methods, as well as the use of appropriate reference data. Quantitative aspects of dietary assessment are stressed and highly informative sections of precision and validity are included. The anthropometric section gives readers a detailed review of available reference data and methods for assessing body composition in the community and laboratory. The growing importance of trace elements in human nutrition, and new developments in the nutritional assessment of hospital patients, are also highlighted.