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DHA Clinical Dietician study materials
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DHA Clinical Dietician practice questions

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Question 1Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

How many kilocalories does 1 gram of dietary protein provide when metabolized in the body?

  1. 9 kcal
  2. 4 kcal Correct answer.
  3. 2 kcal
  4. 7 kcal

Explanation

The Atwater general factors assign 4 kcal per gram to protein, 4 kcal per gram to carbohydrate, and 9 kcal per gram to fat. Protein's 4 kcal/g reflects its energy yield after accounting for obligatory nitrogen loss in urine.

Question 2Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which enzyme initiates the digestion of dietary starch in the mouth and small intestine?

  1. Brush-border lactase
  2. Pancreatic lipase
  3. Pepsin
  4. Salivary and pancreatic alpha-amylase Correct answer.

Explanation

Alpha-amylase, present in saliva and pancreatic juice, hydrolyzes internal alpha-1,4 glycosidic bonds of starch to yield dextrins and maltose. The other enzymes listed act on lipids, proteins, or specific disaccharides rather than starch polymers.

Question 3Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

A patient's diet provides 2000 kcal daily, of which 60 g come from fat. Approximately what percentage of total energy is supplied by fat?

  1. 54%
  2. 40%
  3. 12%
  4. 27% Correct answer.

Explanation

Fat provides 9 kcal/g, so 60 g yields 540 kcal. Dividing 540 by 2000 kcal gives 0.27, or about 27% of total energy.

Question 4Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which amino acid is classified as conditionally essential because its synthesis may become insufficient during severe illness or prematurity?

  1. Glutamine Correct answer.
  2. Aspartic acid
  3. Alanine
  4. Leucine

Explanation

Glutamine is normally synthesized in adequate amounts but can become conditionally essential during catabolic stress, critical illness, or in premature infants. Leucine is strictly essential, while alanine and aspartate are nonessential under ordinary conditions.

Question 5Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which vitamin is a coenzyme required for the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA?

  1. Thiamin (B1) Correct answer.
  2. Ascorbic acid (C)
  3. Riboflavin (B2)
  4. Cobalamin (B12)

Explanation

Thiamin pyrophosphate is the coenzyme for pyruvate dehydrogenase, which converts pyruvate to acetyl-CoA. Deficiency impairs this step and shunts pyruvate toward lactate.

Question 6Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which lipoprotein is primarily responsible for transporting endogenously synthesized triglycerides from the liver to peripheral tissues?

  1. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
  2. Chylomicron
  3. Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) Correct answer.
  4. High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

Explanation

VLDL is assembled in the liver and delivers endogenously produced triglycerides to tissues via lipoprotein lipase. Chylomicrons carry exogenous dietary fat, LDL carries cholesterol, and HDL participates in reverse cholesterol transport.

Question 7Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which mineral is an essential component of thyroid hormones?

  1. Zinc
  2. Selenium
  3. Iodine Correct answer.
  4. Iron

Explanation

Iodine is incorporated into thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) within the thyroid gland. Deficiency leads to goiter and impaired neurodevelopment.

Question 8Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which form of stored carbohydrate is found in the liver and muscle and is broken down to maintain blood glucose between meals?

  1. Amylose
  2. Glycogen Correct answer.
  3. Fructose
  4. Cellulose

Explanation

Glycogen is the branched storage polymer of glucose in liver and muscle. Hepatic glycogenolysis releases glucose into the blood to maintain euglycemia during fasting.

Question 9Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

A patient with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes follows a diet providing 50% of energy from carbohydrate. Which measure best reflects how rapidly a carbohydrate food raises blood glucose compared with a reference food?

  1. Glycemic index Correct answer.
  2. Insulin index
  3. Respiratory quotient
  4. Glycemic load

Explanation

The glycemic index compares the blood glucose response of a fixed carbohydrate portion of a test food with that of a reference food such as glucose. Glycemic load incorporates both the index and the amount of carbohydrate consumed.

Question 10Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

During prolonged fasting, which process provides most of the glucose needed by the brain after hepatic glycogen is depleted?

  1. Gluconeogenesis from amino acids and glycerol Correct answer.
  2. Ketone production in the liver
  3. Glycogenolysis in skeletal muscle
  4. Beta-oxidation of fatty acids to glucose

Explanation

After glycogen stores fall, gluconeogenesis in the liver and kidney synthesizes glucose from precursors such as glucogenic amino acids, glycerol, and lactate. Muscle glycogen cannot release free glucose because muscle lacks glucose-6-phosphatase.

Question 11Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which dietary component is the primary source of the short-chain fatty acids that nourish colonocytes?

  1. Insoluble fiber such as cellulose
  2. Dietary cholesterol
  3. Triglycerides from dairy fat
  4. Resistant starch and soluble fermentable fiber Correct answer.

Explanation

Fermentable fibers and resistant starch escape small-intestinal digestion and are fermented by colonic bacteria to short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate, propionate, and acetate. Butyrate is a major fuel for colonocytes.

Question 12Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which enzyme is responsible for hydrolyzing dietary triglycerides at the surface of lipid droplets in the small intestine?

  1. Carboxypeptidase
  2. Lingual amylase
  3. Trypsin
  4. Pancreatic lipase with colipase Correct answer.

Explanation

Pancreatic lipase, anchored to the lipid interface by colipase, hydrolyzes triglycerides to free fatty acids and monoglycerides. Bile salts emulsify fat to increase the surface area for this action.

Question 13Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which carrier system mediates the intestinal absorption of iron from the gut lumen into enterocytes?

  1. Sodium-glucose linked transporter 1 (SGLT1)
  2. Divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) Correct answer.
  3. Fatty acid translocase (CD36)
  4. Peptide transporter 1 (PepT1)

Explanation

DMT1 transports ferrous iron across the apical membrane of enterocytes, after which ferroportin exports it into the circulation. Iron absorption is regulated by hepcidin and body iron status.

Question 14Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which vitamin functions as a coenzyme in the carboxylation of glutamate residues in clotting factors and is antagonized by warfarin?

  1. Vitamin E
  2. Vitamin B6
  3. Vitamin K Correct answer.
  4. Vitamin D

Explanation

Vitamin K is the cofactor for gamma-glutamyl carboxylase, which activates clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X. Warfarin inhibits the recycling of vitamin K, reducing carboxylation.

Question 15Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

A vegan client has adequate iron intake but poor iron status. Which dietary practice best improves non-heme iron absorption?

  1. Consuming iron-rich foods with calcium supplements
  2. Consuming iron-rich foods with high-fiber bran
  3. Consuming iron-rich foods with a vitamin C source Correct answer.
  4. Consuming iron-rich foods with tea

Explanation

Ascorbic acid reduces ferric iron to the more absorbable ferrous form and forms soluble chelates, enhancing non-heme iron uptake. Tannins, calcium, and phytates inhibit absorption.

Question 16Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which amino acid is the rate-limiting precursor for serotonin synthesis in the brain?

  1. Tryptophan Correct answer.
  2. Tyrosine
  3. Phenylalanine
  4. Histidine

Explanation

Tryptophan is hydroxylated and decarboxylated to form serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). Its brain uptake depends on the ratio of tryptophan to competing large neutral amino acids.

Question 17Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which vitamin deficiency causes impaired collagen synthesis with bleeding gums and poor wound healing?

  1. Vitamin C Correct answer.
  2. Folate
  3. Riboflavin
  4. Niacin

Explanation

Vitamin C is required for prolyl and lysyl hydroxylase, enzymes that stabilize collagen triple helices. Deficiency impairs collagen cross-linking, producing scurvy with bleeding gums and poor wound healing.

Question 18Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which statement about the thermic effect of food is accurate?

  1. It represents energy expended on digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients Correct answer.
  2. It is unaffected by the composition of the diet
  3. It accounts for the majority of total daily energy expenditure
  4. It is highest for fat and lowest for protein

Explanation

The thermic effect of food is the energy cost of digesting, absorbing, and metabolizing nutrients, typically about 10% of intake. Protein has the highest thermic effect and fat the lowest.

Question 19Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which mineral is required for the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase?

  1. Selenium Correct answer.
  2. Manganese
  3. Magnesium
  4. Copper

Explanation

Glutathione peroxidase is a selenoenzyme that reduces hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxides. Selenium is incorporated as selenocysteine at its active site.

Question 20Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

A patient on a strict low-fat diet develops steatorrhea and fat-soluble vitamin deficiency. Which process is most directly impaired?

  1. Intestinal glucose absorption
  2. Pancreatic amylase release
  3. Gastric acid secretion
  4. Micelle formation by bile salts Correct answer.

Explanation

Bile salts emulsify lipids and form micelles that solubilize fatty acids, monoglycerides, and fat-soluble vitamins for absorption. Impaired micelle formation causes steatorrhea and deficiency of vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Question 21Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which metabolite accumulates in the blood when pyruvate dehydrogenase is deficient, producing lactic acidosis?

  1. Uric acid
  2. Ketones
  3. Lactate Correct answer.
  4. Urea

Explanation

When pyruvate cannot be converted to acetyl-CoA, it is reduced to lactate by lactate dehydrogenase, causing lactic acidosis. This occurs in thiamin deficiency and inherited pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency.

Question 22Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which fatty acid is classified as essential because humans lack the desaturase needed to introduce a double bond beyond carbon 9?

  1. Stearic acid
  2. Linoleic acid Correct answer.
  3. Palmitic acid
  4. Oleic acid

Explanation

Humans cannot insert double bonds beyond the delta-9 position, so linoleic acid (18:2 n-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (18:3 n-3) must be supplied by diet. Oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids can be synthesized endogenously.

Question 23Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

A patient with chronic kidney disease is prescribed a protein-restricted diet. Which strategy best supports adequate energy and nitrogen balance?

  1. Increasing protein to at least 2 g/kg daily
  2. Providing adequate non-protein energy from carbohydrate and fat Correct answer.
  3. Restricting all fluids to 500 mL daily
  4. Reducing total energy intake to limit urea production

Explanation

When protein is restricted, sufficient non-protein energy must be supplied to prevent endogenous protein catabolism for energy, which would raise urea and worsen nitrogen balance. Adequate energy spares dietary protein for anabolic use.

Question 24Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which biochemical role explains why thiamin deficiency can precipitate Wernicke encephalopathy in a malnourished patient given a glucose load?

  1. Thiamin directly transports glucose across the blood-brain barrier
  2. Thiamin is a cofactor for glycogen synthase
  3. Thiamin pyrophosphate is needed for pyruvate and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase Correct answer.
  4. Thiamin is required for glucose phosphorylation by hexokinase

Explanation

Thiamin pyrophosphate is the coenzyme for pyruvate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and transketolase. A glucose load increases demand for these pathways, and deficiency causes energy failure and Wernicke encephalopathy.

Question 25Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which metabolic adaptation explains the protein-sparing effect of carbohydrate in a person consuming adequate energy?

  1. Carbohydrate increases urea synthesis in the liver
  2. Carbohydrate blocks amino acid absorption in the intestine
  3. Carbohydrate oxidation reduces the need for gluconeogenesis from amino acids Correct answer.
  4. Carbohydrate directly inhibits gastric proteases

Explanation

When carbohydrate is available, it supplies glucose and spares amino acids from being used as gluconeogenic precursors. This reduces nitrogen loss and preserves lean body mass.

Question 26Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

Which lipid transport particle is assembled in the intestinal enterocyte to carry dietary triglycerides and cholesterol into lymph before entering the bloodstream?

  1. Very-low-density lipoprotein
  2. Low-density lipoprotein
  3. High-density lipoprotein
  4. Chylomicron Correct answer.

Explanation

Dietary fat absorbed by enterocytes is packaged with apolipoprotein B-48 into chylomicrons, which are secreted into lymph and then enter the circulation via the thoracic duct. VLDL carries endogenously synthesized lipid from the liver, while LDL and HDL are later products of plasma lipoprotein metabolism.

Question 27Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

A client reports eating a diet very low in fresh fruits and vegetables. Which water-soluble vitamin is most directly at risk of deficiency because humans cannot synthesize it and body stores are limited to roughly a few weeks?

  1. Vitamin A
  2. Vitamin K
  3. Vitamin D
  4. Vitamin C Correct answer.

Explanation

Ascorbic acid is water soluble, is not synthesized by humans, and total body pools are depleted within weeks of inadequate intake, so low fruit and vegetable intake is a classic risk factor. The other options are fat-soluble vitamins with hepatic or adipose stores that deplete far more slowly.

Question 28Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

A patient with short bowel syndrome has extensive ileal resection. Which nutrient malabsorption is most directly explained by loss of this absorptive site?

  1. Iron
  2. Thiamin
  3. Calcium
  4. Vitamin B12 Correct answer.

Explanation

Vitamin B12 requires intrinsic factor and the cubilin receptor complex, which are concentrated in the terminal ileum, so ileal resection predictably causes B12 malabsorption. Iron is absorbed mainly in the duodenum, and calcium and thiamin are absorbed more proximally or throughout the small intestine.

Question 29Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

A weight-stable adult consumes 2000 kcal per day with 100 g of protein. Using the Atwater factor of 4 kcal per gram for protein, what percentage of total energy is provided by protein?

  1. 10%
  2. 25%
  3. 20% Correct answer.
  4. 15%

Explanation

Protein provides 100 g x 4 kcal/g = 400 kcal, and 400 divided by 2000 kcal equals 0.20, or 20% of total energy. The Atwater factor converts grams of protein to kilocalories so that intake can be expressed as a percentage of energy.

Question 30Nutrition Science and Macronutrient/Micronutrient Metabolism

A client on a ketogenic diet has very low carbohydrate intake. Which metabolic change best explains the progressive rise in circulating ketone bodies after several days?

  1. Enhanced gluconeogenesis from fatty acids supplies oxaloacetate that drives ketone production
  2. Increased hepatic fatty acid oxidation saturates the tricarboxylic acid cycle, diverting acetyl-CoA toward ketogenesis Correct answer.
  3. Increased carnitine palmitoyltransferase I activity in the liver shunts fatty acids into ketone synthesis directly
  4. Reduced insulin allows muscle to release ketone bodies into the blood for hepatic use

Explanation

Low carbohydrate intake lowers insulin and raises counter-regulatory hormones, driving lipolysis and hepatic beta-oxidation. When acetyl-CoA production exceeds the oxidative capacity of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, acetyl-CoA is diverted to ketogenesis in liver mitochondria.

Question 31Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

Which body compartment is estimated by measuring mid-upper arm circumference together with triceps skinfold thickness?

  1. Visceral fat area
  2. Bone mineral content
  3. Total body water
  4. Mid-upper arm muscle circumference Correct answer.

Explanation

Triceps skinfold estimates subcutaneous fat, and subtracting the derived fat area from total arm area yields the mid-upper arm muscle circumference, a proxy for skeletal muscle mass. Total body water and bone mineral content require other methods such as dilution or DXA.

Question 32Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

A patient's weight is 70 kg and height is 1.75 m. What is the body mass index, rounded to one decimal place?

  1. 20.0 kg/m²
  2. 26.1 kg/m²
  3. 22.9 kg/m² Correct answer.
  4. 24.5 kg/m²

Explanation

BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared: 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) = 70 ÷ 3.0625 = 22.86, which rounds to 22.9 kg/m².

Question 33Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

Which biochemical marker is most commonly used to reflect recent dietary protein intake and short-term visceral protein status?

  1. C-reactive protein
  2. Prealbumin (transthyretin) Correct answer.
  3. Serum albumin
  4. Total lymphocyte count

Explanation

Prealbumin has a short half-life of about two days, so it responds relatively quickly to changes in protein intake and inflammation. Albumin has a much longer half-life and changes slowly.

Question 34Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

In a 24-hour dietary recall, which limitation most directly affects the accuracy of the estimate?

  1. Tendency to alter usual intake because intake is weighed
  2. Inability to record food as it is eaten
  3. High respondent burden leading to dropout
  4. Reliance on memory and difficulty estimating portion sizes Correct answer.

Explanation

A 24-hour recall depends on the respondent's memory and ability to describe portions, which introduces recall bias and estimation error. Weighed records, not recalls, impose weighing burden and can alter usual intake.

Question 35Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

Which measurement best estimates stature in an adult who cannot stand because of spinal deformity?

  1. Knee height Correct answer.
  2. Recumbent length
  3. Arm span
  4. Sitting height

Explanation

Knee height is a validated surrogate for stature in non-ambulatory or deformed adults because it is relatively unaffected by spinal curvature. Arm span and recumbent length are less reliable when deformity or contracture is present.

Question 36Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

Which of the following is a limitation of bioelectrical impedance analysis for assessing body composition?

  1. It cannot be performed at the bedside
  2. It exposes the patient to a moderate radiation dose
  3. It directly measures bone mineral density
  4. Hydration status and electrolyte balance affect the reading Correct answer.

Explanation

BIA estimates body water from electrical conductivity, so hydration, oedema and electrolyte shifts can distort the derived fat-free mass. It uses a low current, involves no ionising radiation and is portable.

Question 37Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

A waist circumference above which threshold indicates substantially increased cardiometabolic risk in adult men?

  1. 120 cm
  2. 102 cm Correct answer.
  3. 80 cm
  4. 88 cm

Explanation

For men, a waist circumference of 102 cm or more denotes substantially increased risk, while 94 cm marks increased risk. For women the corresponding thresholds are 80 cm and 88 cm.

Question 38Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

Which of the following is a component of the subjective global assessment (SGA)?

  1. Serum albumin concentration
  2. Change in dietary intake and weight history Correct answer.
  3. Triceps skinfold thickness
  4. Handgrip strength

Explanation

The SGA combines history components such as weight change, dietary intake change, gastrointestinal symptoms and functional capacity with a brief physical examination. Laboratory values and anthropometric skinfolds are not part of the SGA.

Question 39Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

A 45-year-old woman weighs 62 kg and is 1.60 m tall. Using the BMI classification, how should her nutritional status be categorised?

  1. Underweight
  2. Obese class I
  3. Overweight
  4. Normal weight Correct answer.

Explanation

Her BMI is 62 ÷ (1.60 × 1.60) = 24.2 kg/m², which falls in the normal range of 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m². Overweight begins at 25.0 kg/m².

Question 40Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

A 70 kg man has a triceps skinfold of 10 mm. Using the standard formula, what is his mid-upper arm muscle circumference?

  1. 19.0 cm
  2. 22.3 cm Correct answer.
  3. 25.0 cm
  4. 28.6 cm

Explanation

MUAMC equals mid-upper arm circumference minus (π × triceps skinfold in cm). With an arm circumference of 25.4 cm and a skinfold of 1.0 cm, MUAMC = 25.4 − 3.14 = 22.3 cm.

Question 41Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

Which set of criteria defines the metabolic syndrome according to the harmonised definition?

  1. Raised waist circumference plus a family history of diabetes
  2. Any two of raised BMI, LDL cholesterol, blood pressure and fasting glucose
  3. Raised fasting glucose plus a raised C-reactive protein
  4. Any three of raised waist circumference, triglycerides, blood pressure, fasting glucose and reduced HDL Correct answer.

Explanation

The harmonised metabolic syndrome definition requires three or more of five criteria: abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, reduced HDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and elevated fasting glucose. BMI, LDL and inflammatory markers are not components.

Question 42Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

Which dietary assessment method is most appropriate for estimating habitual intake of a population over the preceding year?

  1. Food frequency questionnaire Correct answer.
  2. Three-day weighed food record
  3. Single 24-hour recall
  4. Duplicate diet collection

Explanation

A food frequency questionnaire asks about usual consumption frequency over an extended period, making it suited to ranking habitual intake in populations. A single recall or short record captures only recent days.

Question 43Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

A patient's weight has fallen from 80 kg to 72 kg over six months. What is the percentage weight loss?

  1. 12%
  2. 5%
  3. 10% Correct answer.
  4. 8%

Explanation

Percentage weight loss is the loss divided by the usual or previous weight, multiplied by 100: 8 ÷ 80 × 100 = 10%. This degree of loss over six months is clinically significant.

Question 44Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

Which statement about serum albumin as a nutritional marker is most accurate?

  1. It is influenced by inflammation, liver function and hydration as well as protein status Correct answer.
  2. It is the preferred marker for detecting short-term dietary change
  3. It falls rapidly within 24 hours of reduced protein intake
  4. It is unaffected by acute illness

Explanation

Albumin synthesis is suppressed by inflammation and hepatic dysfunction, and its concentration is altered by fluid shifts, so it is a poor isolated marker of protein intake. It changes slowly because of its long half-life.

Question 45Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

Which of the following is the most appropriate screening tool for identifying malnutrition risk in hospitalised adults using the MUST approach?

  1. Dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire
  2. BMI, unintentional weight loss and acute disease effect Correct answer.
  3. Handgrip strength and skinfold thickness
  4. Serum albumin and total lymphocyte count

Explanation

MUST scores patients on BMI, unintentional weight loss and the presence of an acute disease effect that prevents eating. It does not use laboratory or functional measures.

Question 46Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

Which measure is most useful for tracking changes in body composition during a weight-loss intervention in a patient with oedema?

  1. Body weight alone
  2. Mid-upper arm circumference
  3. Bioelectrical impedance analysis
  4. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry Correct answer.

Explanation

DXA is relatively insensitive to fluid shifts and can differentiate fat from fat-free mass, making it suitable when oedema confounds other measures. BIA is strongly affected by hydration and oedema.

Question 47Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

A 65-year-old woman weighs 50 kg and is 1.55 m tall. What is her BMI, and how is it classified?

  1. 26.0 kg/m², overweight
  2. 20.8 kg/m², normal weight Correct answer.
  3. 18.0 kg/m², underweight
  4. 22.5 kg/m², normal weight

Explanation

BMI is 50 ÷ (1.55 × 1.55) = 50 ÷ 2.4025 = 20.8 kg/m², which lies within the normal range of 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m².

Question 48Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a nutrition-focused physical examination?

  1. To quantify dietary intake over the past week
  2. To determine the need for enteral feeding access
  3. To measure resting energy expenditure
  4. To detect physical signs of nutrient deficiency and loss of muscle or fat stores Correct answer.

Explanation

The nutrition-focused physical examination looks for signs such as muscle wasting, loss of subcutaneous fat, oedema and micronutrient deficiency signs. It complements, but does not replace, dietary and biochemical assessment.

Question 49Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

A patient reports a usual weight of 90 kg but now weighs 76 kg after three months of illness. Which statement best describes the significance?

  1. A loss of less than 15% is not clinically relevant
  2. A loss of more than 10% in three months is clinically significant and warrants intervention Correct answer.
  3. Weight loss should only be assessed relative to ideal body weight
  4. The loss is insignificant because the patient remains above ideal body weight

Explanation

Unintentional loss exceeding 10% of usual body weight within three months is a recognised indicator of significant malnutrition risk and prompts nutritional intervention. The percentage of usual weight lost, not absolute weight, guides interpretation.

Question 50Nutrition Assessment and Anthropometry

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using a food frequency questionnaire in clinical practice?

  1. It captures only the previous 24 hours
  2. It depends on memory and the accuracy of a predefined food list Correct answer.
  3. It requires weighing all foods consumed
  4. It cannot be self-administered

Explanation

A food frequency questionnaire relies on the respondent's memory and on a fixed food list that may omit culturally specific or seasonal items. It does not involve weighing and covers a longer timeframe than a single recall.