Ayanna, a community nutritionist consulting at local grade schools was asked to provide nutrition screening to the Sth, 6th, and 7th grade students in a low-income and ethnically diverse school district as well as in a middle-income school with more Caucasian students. The overall objective was to screen students from the five lower and middle sociocconomic and culturally diverse schools who may not have access to nutrition screening and to evaluate the rate of obesity in these age groups. The nutritionist sent fliers to the parents or guardians through the students and posted fliers at the school cafeteria and at different bulletin boards within the schools. In addition, a total of five announcements were made through the intercom before class periods in all the schools. Information about the event was also included in the school's newsletter. Screenings were conducted after school hours on different days of the week for two weeks to accommodate the target group. Despite all recruiting efforts, the results indicated that the targeted group did not use the service as hoped, and the predominant individuals who accessed the service were Caucasian, middle-class, insured students. Results also showed 13 percent of the students screened were overweight with a BMI of 28 and BMI for age in the 85th percentile, 20 percent were obese with a BMI over 30 and BMI for age in the 95th percentile, and 5 percent of non-Caucasian students were underweight with a BMI of less than 15 and BMI for age below the 5th percentile. Physical examination revealed mottled, chipped, and missing teeth and chapped, red, swollen lips in some of the students,
Questions
1. What is the definition of a community nutrition assessment? What are the different tools. and methods for measuring nutritional status in the community?
2. Describe how to calculate BMI. What is the BMI of an individual who weighs 155 pounds and is 5'4" tall?
3. What are the BMI ranges for determining the susceptibility to obesity?
4. What is the definition of a diet history? Describe three different dietary assessment methods
5. What are some factors that can affect the reliability and validity of the dietary assessment questionnaires that Ayanna must apply to her program? 6. Ayanna considered using physical examination tests that use general appearance as an indicator of nutritional status. List five physical examination tests she could use, discuss the nutrient deficiencies that may affect the physical appearance of her clients
7. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the use of 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaires,
8. As a nutritionist, must know the ABCDs of nutritional assessment. Describe them.
9. List two biochemical tests that Ayanna could perform to measure protein and iron status, and discuss the consequences of inadequate intake of these nutrients.