A nurse has begun the assessment process with an obese patient who states that he is highly motivated to lose weight. How can the nurse most accurately gauge the patient's normal eating and drinking patterns?
A) Have the patient keep a detailed food diary for 2 or 3 days.
B) Ask the patient to describe a typical meal and snack.
C) Check laboratory reports of total and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar.
D) Have the patient describe the differences between a healthy meal and an unhealthy meal.
A
Feedback:
The best way to assess dietary habits is to ask the patient to keep a food diary for 2 or 3 days. If food intake is not written down, people tend to underestimate the amount and caloric content. Blood work is a relevant assessment datum but does not necessarily indicate the patient's eating and drinking habits. Having the patient describe a healthy or unhealthy meal does not allow the nurse to assess eating habits.
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