Your overall health is related to the foods you put into your body. Having a deficiency of a nutrient may increase your risk of illness. On the other hand, having an excess of a nutrient, such as fat, can increase your risk of obesity and related diseases. Getting a nutritional assessment conducted by a registered dietician is important for your current and future health status, even if you're generally healthy.
What to Expect
A nutrition assessment is conducted to evaluate your health in relation to nutrient intake and body measures. Assessments are typically conducted by a registered dietician, but your physician can conduct it as well. You need to keep track of the foods you eat for 24 hours so the dietician can evaluate your nutrient intake. In some cases, you may need to track foods in a journal for several days. Your weight, height, bone structure and age are used to calculate proper body weight for you. Other factors, such as family history and current illnesses, will also be noted. The dietician uses all of this information to determine your nutritional state to determine whether you have any deficiencies or abundances that can lead to obesity or obesity-related diseases.
Malnutrition and What It Demonstrates
Suffering from malnutrition means that your body isn't getting the nutrients it needs. This may be caused from poor diet, malabsorption, old age, alcohol, smoking or as a side effect of a chronic illness. According to Practical Gastroenterology, malnutrition can occur if you're undernourished or over-nourished; either condition indicates an imbalance of energy intake versus energy utilization.
Signs and Symptoms
The most common sign of malnutrition is weight: either weight loss or weight gain. Malnutrition can cause a delayed healing of wounds, fatigue, depression or weakness. Some factors aren't as noticeable. Your doctor may check your blood for a total red blood cell count. Anemia, which is a low red blood cell count, may also be a side effect of malnutrition, Mayo Clinic reports.
Other Considerations
Having a nutritional assessment is important to determine your risks of chronic diseases before they occur. It's easier for your healthcare provider to evaluate your level of malnutrition as it occurs, rather than long after permanent damage is done, explains Practical Gastroenterology. Severe malnutrition can lead to brittle bones, weakened muscles, digestive problems, poor immune system functioning and diminished skin integrity. Having a nutritional assessment can help correct these issues before they progress.
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