Question

practice nutrition assesment

AC is a 42 year-old white female who recently attended a nutrition counseling session provided at her workplace as part of a new benefit. She states her reason for counseling as wanting to know if there is anything she can do to help prevent getting breast cancer like her mother had. She adds that her job is very stressful and demanding and that she has little extra time. She received a recent diagnosis of hypertension and was started on a low dose medication. She takes 3000 mg vitamin C to "prevent getting sick", but also notes occasional diarrhea and stomach upset. Her meals are erratic due to her schedule and this has resulted in a weight loss of five pounds. She supplements meals with fiber bars in view of her limited diet. There is a family history of breast cancer in both her mother and grandmother. She does get annual mammograms which have been negative. AC's height is 5 ft. 5 in, and weight is 115. 1. What is AC's BMI? 2. Is her weight underweight, normal or overweight? 3. What would you consider as a "healthy weight" for AC? 4. What might be the cause(s) of her gastrointestinal symptoms? 5. What would you recommend to her as ways to alleviate these symptoms? 6. What nutrition and other lifestyle factors, or cancer promoters, do you identify that might increase her risk for developing breast cancer? 7. What might be some reasonable suggestions you could make to improve her diet within her hectic lifestyle?

Answer 1

1. Body mass index of the patient is 19.1

2. Patient weights normal

3. 55 to 62 kg

4.Gastric symptoms due to,

• Stressful job
• Erratic diet
• Medication

5.Management

• Follow healthy diet according to dietitian
• Avoid stress, and anxiety
• Take rest
• Relaxation training
• Avoid stimulants
• For gastric symptoms take medication as per doctor's order
• Maintain nutritional status

6.

• Avoid alocohol and smoking
• Follow hygienic lifestyle
• Active exercise
• Healthy diet
• Avoid exposure to radiation
• Follow up screening
• Avoid stressful events

7.

• Avoid spicy food
• Avoid stimulants like caffeine
• Avoid more fatty meals
• Meal should include carbohydrates, protein fat,fiber and minerals
• Diet should include green leafy vegetables
• Avoid junk foods and beverages
• Have subsequent meals instead of heavy meals
• Drink more water