Both the medical history and the objective examination are essential for the assessment of nutrition status. It is very important to collect information on nonprescribed weight changes, adequacy of energy and protein intake, and use of medications that may interfere with absorption and metabolism.
In addition to clinical assessment of hydration status, assessment of muscle strength and body fat distribution is also useful. In addition, there are specific clinical signs of particular nutrient deficiency. These are becoming increasingly popular in relation to the increase in population groups at risk of Protein-Energy Malnutrition: the elderly, young people with eating disorders or poor dietary habits, patients with chronic diseases even with moderate catabolism.
Source: Handbook of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition by Franco Contaldo et al.
