Nutrition Assessment Essay

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Nutritional assessment of the older persons
A comprehensive assessment of nutritional status includes anthropometric measurements, laboratory values, clinical examination, as well as diet history. Nutritional assessment aids in the planning for the prevention of a nutrition specific nutrition related health problem.
2.1.1 Anthropometric measurements
Ageing process engages modification in the nutritional and physiological status such as decrease in body weight and height, as well as decrease in the fat free mass. However, the body composition changes occur differently in men and women and in various phases of aging thereby influencing anthropometry (Govender, 2011).
Anthropometric measurement are now considered as significant indicators of an individual’s nutritional status and are widely used, they are inexpensive and non-invasive measures of the of the general nutritional status of an individual or a population group to identify the nutritional status and individuals at risk of certain diet related diseases. Malnutrition, whether undernutrition or overnutrition alter the body composition (Perissinoto et al, 2002). The four measures used to undertake the anthropometric assessment are: age, gender, height and weight (Govender, 2011).
2.1.1.1 Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) …show more content…

Poor appetite or anorexia nervosa is the major cause of malnutrition and is mediated by a variety of factors; the main contribution is the decrease in energy intake and micronutrient deficiencies likely to occur due to ageing (Hickson, 2006). Taste as well as smell are also implicated in the loss of appetite through a perceived decline in the pleasantness of food. In addition, taste is the most significant element of the cephalic phase response that prepares the body for digestion. Taste also aids modulate food choice and meal size by increasing satiety and the pleasure of

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