Nutrition

Question 1

Medical complications of obesity

Answer 1

stroke
heart disease
pancreatitis
arthritis
gout
cancer
gallstones
liver disease
lung disease
sleep apnea
increased hospitalisation + death from COVID-19

Question 2

Medical complications of being underweight

Answer 2

decreased immunity
nutritional deficiencies
poor body heat regulation
decreased cognitive function
frailty
fatigue
reduced growth + development (skin, hair + teeth problems)

Question 3

How to measure weight

Answer 3

• void bladder
• ensure sufficient weighing capacity for patient
• place scales on stable surface + ensure registering at 0 (adjust if needed)
• scales must be routinely calibrated
• remove items from pockets
• remove heavy outdoor clothing + shoes
• ensure body weight evenly distributed over centre
• stand on scale, breathing normally and looking straight ahead, arms by side
• repeat measurement

Question 4

How to measure height

Answer 4

use a stadiometer

• remove head wear + shoes
• stand on base plate, feet together + arms by side
• heels, buttocks + upper back in light contact with stadiometer
• head positioned so eye-to-ear plane horizontal (‘frankfort plane’)
• lower central stadiometer arm to top of head
• patient inhale, take measurement at end of inhalation
• repeat measurement

Question 5

BMI calculation

Answer 5

weight (kg) / (height (m))^2

Question 6

What are growth charts used for?

Answer 6

• monitoring growth of children + adolescents
• gives percentiles (shows where child sits within expected distribution of peers)
• BMI > 91st percentile = overweight
• BMI > 98th percentile = very overweight (clinically obese)

Question 7

How to measure waist circumference

Answer 7

use seca retractable circumference tape (can pull to required length + click in place)

• remove bulky clothing
• stand with feet together
• attach tape loosely around waist, ensuring no twists in tape
• locate lowest rib + top of hip on either side
• ask patient to mark position with thumb + fingers
• reposition slack tape between fingers + tighten (taut but not depressing skin)
• check tape horizontal around circumference
• arms should be down by sides
• ask patient to take 2 deep breaths, take measurement at end of second exhale
• measure to nearest 0.1cm
• repeat measurement (may be some variation - take average)

Question 8

Describe food traffic light system

Answer 8

on packaging:

• green = healthy choice
• amber = neither especially healthy or unhealthy
• red = foods we can still eat, but should limit intake