Nutritional Status Assessment Methodologies

Basic notions of Human Nutrition.

The curricular unit will be developed according to a theoretical and practical model with moments of structured exposition of the contents and respective analysis and discussion or debate. An interrogative and interactive methodology will be used prior to the presentation of the main contents and concepts, and demonstration/exemplified of them through their practical application in case studies and resorting to computer programs and professional tools, as well as study visits/fieldwork to apply and train the methodologies learnt.

At the end of the curricular unit, it is intended that students have developed skills to carry out detailed nutritional assessment, mastering the techniques with the utmost rigor and ethical respect. Thus, students are expected to:

1. Recognize the importance of assessing an individual’s nutritional status, mastering the different assessment methodologies;

2. Know how to select the appropriate methodology and materials for each individual situation, applying and handling them in an appropriate manner;

3. Recognize the characteristics of an individual’s usual body composition and their assessment methods;

4. Know how to describe and apply the different methods of assessing food intake;

5. Have the ability to interpret the results of the application of the different methodologies, managing to establish a nutritional diagnosis.

1.           Principles of assessing nutritional status.

2.           Anthropometric assessment: Introduction to anthropometry. Data collection and ethical issues. Anthropometry equipment, measurement units and their calibration. Anatomical measurement sites. Techniques: Weight; Height; Skinfolds; Griths. Measurement error. Estimates and calculation of derived indices. Interpretation of results and anthropometric reference data. Measuring groups with special needs: individuals with reduced functional capacity, children, pregnant women and the elderly.

3.           Body composition assessment.

4.           Food intake assessment.

5.           Clinical assessment. Subjective Global Assessment.

6.           Functional and analytical assessment.

7.           Nutritional diagnosis

NAO

Main bibliography

Kyle et al; ESPEN Guidelines Bioimpedance analysis – part I: review of principles and methods; Clinical Nutrition 2004.

Kyle et al; ESPEN Guidelines Bioimpedance analysis – part II: utilization in clinical practice; Clinical Nutrition 2004.

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2017. Dietary Reference Values for nutrients. Summary Report. EFSA supporting publication 2017:e15121. 98 pp. doi:10.2903/sp.efsa.2017.e15121

Goios A, Liz Martins M, Oliveira AC, Afonso C, Amaral T. Pesos e Porções de Alimentos. Ensino e Educação Universitária, UPorto Edições. 3ª edição, junho 2019 (ISBN: 978-989-746-213-9).

Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge (2007). Tabela da Composição de Alimentos, (1a Edição – Reimpressão).

Lisboa: Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge.

Secondary bibliography

Lee R. and Nieman D. Nutritional Assessment, 7th Edition. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. New York. ISBN: 978-0-07-802133-6.

Raymond JL & Morrow K. Krause and Mahan’s Food & The Nutrition Care Process. Elsevier, 15th edition, 2020.

Stewart A & Marfell-Jones M. International standards for anthropometric assessment. International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry, Lower Hutt, New Zealand, 2011.

Mordarski, B.  Nutrition Focused Physical Exam Pocket Guide. Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. 3rd Ed. 2021. ISBN: 978-0-88091-206-8.

Gibson RS. Principles of Nutritional Assessment. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press. New York 2005.

Nancy Munoz and Melissa Bernstein. Nutrition Assessment: Clinical and Research Applications. 1st Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning (2018). ISBN-10: 1284127664

Shils, M. E., & Shike, M. (2006). Modern nutrition in health and disease (10th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.