NFS 220 Chapter Notes - Chapter 13: Overnutrition
Document Summary
Illnesses and their treatments can alter food intake and nutrient needs, leading to malnutrition. In turn, poor nutrition status can influence the course of illness and reduce the effectiveness of medical treatments. The combined efforts of each member of the health care team ensure that patients receive optimal nutrition care. Nutrition screening identifies individuals who can benefit from nutrition assessment and follow-up nutrition care. Nursing diagnoses can also identify potential nutrition problems. The nutrition care process includes four interrelated steps: nutrition assessment, nutrition diagnosis, nutrition intervention, and nutrition monitoring and evaluation. Nutrition assessments include historical information, anthropometric data, biochemical analyses, and a physical examination. Health care providers assess food intake using 24- hour dietary recall interviews, food frequency questionnaires, food records, and direct observation. Anthropometric measurements, such as height, weight, and body circumferences, help clinicians evaluate growth patterns, overnutrition and undernutrition, and body composition. Biochemical analyses may indicate nutrient imbalances but are also influenced by various other medical problems.