(British Dietetic Association (BDA), 2012) Nutritional assessment is the systematic collection and interpretation of data to determine the type and cause of nutrition-related health problems affecting a person.
Following a structured assessment procedure enables health professionals to conduct quality nutritional evaluations, identify individuals in need of healthy intervention, and enhance clinical decision-making. The method facilitates constant practice, is user-friendly, and provides effective patient observation. A structured evaluation method does not eliminate autonomy; rather, it empowers competent judgement and informed dynamic at each point. The procedure provides a rationale for the dietary intervention and accounts for the alteration of the arrangement as long-term individual conditions change.
There are two strategies for assessment of the dietary status:
Direct (- handles people and assesses goal models) and indirect approaches are utilized in dietary status evaluation (- utilizes community health records reflecting nutritional impacts). These tactics include anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, nutritional, emotional, and functional measurements for all phases of the disease. Due to the fact that each of them has a few advantages and disadvantages, employing all of them to assess the overall state provides a comprehensive picture of a person’s nutritional status. However, the use of any technique or a combination of techniques is recommended depending on the purpose of the nutritional assessment.
Clinical assessment
The primary purpose of all nutritional studies is to evaluate the health condition of individuals or groups within a population based on the type of food they consume. At least two clinical symptoms of a particular dietary deficiency increase the analytical significance. It is typically referred to a large assembly of the population. However, it is unable to assess the precise level of nutrient deficit because the majority of clinical documentation for nutrient shortage is imprecise and requires biochemical analysis to determine nutritional status.
Anthropometric estimations
Anthropometric estimations, which include height, weight, etc., could differentiate differences in body composition to assess the nutritional health of a specific group, including infants, children under the age of five, and adults. The benefit of using anthropometric estimations is that standard anthropometric estimations can provide instances of a person’s growth and development.
Laboratory and biochemical analyses
These investigations are extremely beneficial for detecting early alterations in the body’s digestion and nutrition prior to the appearance of obvious clinical symptoms. In addition, the outcomes obtained are exact, precise, and repeatable. These examinations are time-consuming and expensive; hence they cannot be used on a large scale.
Performance indicators for Nutritional assessment
Dietary status indicators are becoming a prominent class of indicating devices that accompany biochemical investigations. A portion of the commonly used practical lists is devoted to hemostasis and nerve conduction. Although these pointers are employed in a variety of physiological components, they are laborious and expensive.
Vital statistics for Nutritional assessment
Vital statistics are collected from professionals in community health services, observation networks, etc. All the information acquired from many nations will provide a general picture of the nutritional status of the population, which is necessary for the public authority to make approach decisions. For example, analysis of mortality and morbidity data can be used to estimate the disease’s local prevalence and identify high-risk groups. Nonetheless, as opposed to mortality data, which does not provide an appealing picture of the nutritional state of the population, dreariness data has a greater impact on public health and can assist producers in meeting the need of a particular location. The programme supervisors might apply critical measurement to periodically assess the procedures and then modify their programme as required.
Dietary intake assessment
Dietary review is a rational assessment of eating habits that can indicate nutrient deficit. There are several methods for conducting nutrition research. The food accounting report could assist programme administrators in determining the dietary needs of a district, state, or nation. It is derived by subtracting the amount of food provided to a predefined population group on a specific date from the amount of food left over after a predetermined time frame to determine the utilization/need of food products for the reserved population in that predetermined discretionary period.
