Nutrition Assessment and Client Screening
What this domain tests
Nutrition Assessment and Client Screening tests whether you can gather reliable intake data, interpret anthropometrics responsibly, identify red flags, and decide when to refer. The exam emphasizes process and scope, not diagnosis.
Core rules
- Common intake methods: 24-hour recall (quick but unrepresentative), food frequency questionnaire (captures usual patterns but depends on memory), and multi-day food diary (better detail but reactive). Use more than one method when possible.
- Anthropometrics: weight, height, waist circumference, and BMI; measure consistently and track trends rather than single readings.
- Screening domains: medical history, medications, allergies, gastrointestinal symptoms, eating behavior, body image, readiness, and physical activity.
- Red flags requiring referral include unintentional weight loss, severe restriction, binge-purge behavior, amenorrhea, suspected eating disorder, uncontrolled diabetes, kidney disease, pregnancy complications, and swallowing difficulty.
- You may collect and interpret general nutrition information, but you do not diagnose malnutrition, order labs, or prescribe therapeutic diets.
Worked example
A 22-year-old client reports BMI 17, fear of gaining weight, skipped meals, and no menstrual period for four months. The correct response is not to design a calorie deficit or a “healthy eating plan.” You should express concern, avoid judgment, document the reported red flags, and refer to a physician and eating disorder specialist. Continue supportive coaching only within your scope and in coordination with the care team.
Traps that cost marks
Relying on a single 24-hour recall, treating BMI as a diagnosis, ignoring medication and allergy information, and attempting to counsel an eating disorder client alone.