Nutritional Assessment
What is Nutritional Assessment?
Nutrition plays a fundamental role in a child’s overall health, growth, and development. A well-balanced diet provides essential nutrients that support physical, cognitive, and immune system functions. However, many children suffer from malnutrition, which can be due to undernutrition, overnutrition, or specific nutrient deficiencies. This is where nutritional assessment becomes crucial.
It involves measuring growth parameters, analysing dietary intake, assessing clinical symptoms, and conducting laboratory tests. Through proper assessment, healthcare professionals can identify nutritional imbalances, create personalized dietary plans, and prevent potential health complications.
Components of Nutritional Assessment
Anthropometric Measurements:
- Weight: Used to detect underweight, overweight, or obesity.
- Height/Length: Helps assess growth patterns and detect stunted growth.
- Head Circumference: Measured in infants to monitor brain development.
- Body Mass Index (BMI): BMI-for-age is used to classify children as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.
Dietary Assessment:
- 24-Hour Dietary Recall: Parents or caregivers recall everything the child ate in the past 24 hours.
- Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ): Helps determine how often certain foods are consumed
- Food Diary: Parents record their child's meals over a few days to get an accurate picture of dietary intake.
Clinical Assessment:
- Pale skin or fatigue (Iron Deficiency Anemia)
- Delayed wound healing (Protein or Vitamin C Deficiency)
- Dry, scaly skin or night blindness (Vitamin A Deficiency)
- Dental issues (Calcium or Vitamin D Deficiency)
- Poor muscle tone (Protein-Energy Malnutrition)
Biochemical and Laboratory Tests:
- Hemoglobin and Ferritin Levels: Detects anemia.
- Serum Vitamin Levels: Checks for deficiencies (Vitamin D, B12, etc.).
- Lipid Profile: Evaluates cholesterol levels in overweight or obese children
- Blood Sugar Levels: Screens for diabetes risk.
Common Nutritional Issues in Children
Under nutrition
- Stunting: Delayed height growth.
- Wasting: Severe weight loss.
- Micronutrient Deficiencies: Lack of vitamins and minerals (e.g., iron, calcium, vitamin A).
Over nutrition and Obesity
- Childhood obesity, increasing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems.
- Nutrient imbalances, where excess calories do not provide essential vitamins and minerals.
Selective Eating and Nutrient Deficiencies
- Low iron intake (causing anemia).
- Vitamin D and calcium deficiency (leading to weak bones).
- Protein deficiency (affecting muscle growth).
