Nutrition

Optimal Nutritional Status

Sufficient nutrients for daily needs and increased demands; supports long, active life.

At-Risk Groups (Undernutrition)

Infants, children, pregnant women, immigrants, low income, hospitalized, aging adults.

Overnutrition Causes

Excess calories, fat, sodium; exceeds metabolic needs.

Overnutrition Complications

Obesity, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, cancer, osteoarthritis.

Infant Nutrition (0–2 yrs)

Breastfeed 1st year, avoid cow’s milk <1 yr, provide adequate fat/calories.

Picky Teen Nutrition Advice

Healthy, protein-rich snacks; avoid fad diets; educate on nutrition.

Social Media Impact

Promotes unrealistic body ideals; increases obesity risk; affects body image.

Metabolic Syndrome Factors

3 of 5: high BP, high glucose, high triglycerides, large waist, low HDL.

Dysphagia

Swallowing difficulty; leads to malnutrition/dehydration/aspiration risk.

Older Adult Nutrition Factors

Poor health, dysphagia, isolation, limited income, mobility issues, polypharmacy.

Physiologic Changes in Older Adults

Poor dentition, reduced taste/smell, decreased GI absorption, muscle loss, fat gain.

Socioeconomic Challenges for Older Adults

Low income, limited support, difficulty shopping/cooking.

Immigrant Nutrition Challenges

Limited reserves, unfamiliar foods, adapting to U.S. diet.

Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA)

Quick tool for older adults in long-term care/community settings.

Poor Nutrition Effects

Slower wound healing, higher fall risk, longer hospital stays, pressure injuries.

Most significant lab for Nutrition

Albumin; low = protein-calorie malnutrition.

Food Frequency Questionnaire

Tracks food intake frequency; better than 24-hr recall for patterns.

Food Diaries

3-day record; useful for erratic eating; must record immediately.

Choose My Plate / USDA Guidelines

Visual and practical guidance for healthy diet and chronic disease prevention.

Usual Weight

Detect unintentional loss/gain; baseline for BMI.

Changes in Appetite/Taste/Swallowing

May indicate illness, medication effects, or malnutrition.

Chronic Illness Risk

Diabetes, pancreatitis, malabsorption, cancer, kidney disease.

Medication Impact

Can affect absorption; supplements/herbals may be harmful.

Parental Interventions

Small portions, healthy snacks, repeated exposure, avoid pressure.

Adolescent Weight Perception

Assess perception to prevent eating disorders; ensure nutrient intake.

Low Albumin

Indicates poor protein intake/malnutrition; affects healing and immunity.

Anthropometric Measures

Weight, height, BMI, waist-hip ratio, skinfold, arm span.

BMI

Height + weight; >30 = obesity, >40 = morbid obesity.

Malnutrition Severity

Current ÷ usual weight ×100; 85–95% = mild, 75–84% = moderate, <75% = severe.

Significant Weight Loss

5% 1 month, >7.5% 3 months, >10% 6 months.

Waist-to-Hip Ratio

Fat distribution; >1 men, >0.8 women = higher disease risk.

Marasmus

Protein-calorie starvation; decreased anthropometrics.

Scorbutic Gums

Vitamin C deficiency; bleeding/swollen gums.

Rickets

Vitamin D + calcium deficiency; soft bones, delayed growth.

Magenta Tongue

Riboflavin (B2) deficiency; may mimic iron/B-complex deficiencies.

Kwashiorkor

High-calorie, low-protein diet; may appear obese; edema common.

Height + Weight for BMI

Both needed to calculate BMI and assess nutritional status.