Nutritional Assessment

Definition

Nutritional assessment is the process of evaluating a person's dietary intake and lifestyle to understand their nutritional status and dietary needs.

Scientific / Technical Definition

Nutritional assessment is a comprehensive evaluation carried out by healthcare professionals to determine an individual's nutritional status. This process involves the collection and interpretation of data from dietary, biochemical, anthropometric, and clinical sources to identify specific nutritional imbalances, deficiencies, or excesses.

Benefits

• Helps identify nutritional deficiencies or excesses.
• Aids in the development of personalized nutrition plans.
• Supports overall health by ensuring balanced nutrient intake.
• Monitors the effectiveness of nutritional interventions.
• Contributes to disease prevention and management.

Examples

• Analyzing dietary intake through food diaries or recalls.
• Measuring body composition using tools like BMI or body fat percentage.
• Biochemical tests such as blood glucose or cholesterol levels.

Additional Information

• Importance: Nutritional assessment is important for identifying individual dietary needs, detecting potential nutritional-related health issues, and guiding effective dietary modifications.

Related Terms

• Dietary Intake
• Nutritional Status
• Anthropometry
• Biochemical Analysis
• Dietary Guidelines

References

• Understanding Nutritional Assessment
• The Role of Nutritional Assessment in Health