Body weight and changes in it can signify either an improvement or reduction in one’s nutrition status. Certain measures of weight loss are definitive of malnutrition. In this post, we will discuss how weight serves as an indicator of nutrition-related conditions, specifically malnutrition.
There are 3 measures of weight along with BMI that are normally considered to relate with severity of illness, morbidity and mortality incidences among in-patients(Blackburn).They include: BMI, percent of recent weight change, percent ideal weight and percent usual weight.
Among children, clinical signs and symptoms such as changes in hair and skin, oedema in addition to a lack of weight gain could indicate malnutrition.However, a different approach is utilized to determine adult malnutrition where the mentioned body weight evaluators as well as certain characteristics, for example, loss of muscle mass, generalized fluid accumulation, limited energy intake, weight loss, decreased functional status are generally recommended in the assessment.
Using the 3 body weight evaluators and BMI, a dietitian can identify whether a patient is susceptible to malnutrition depending on the rate of weight loss. A BMI of less than 18.5 among adults and less than 23 among older adults indicates lower than recommended weight range. In regard to weight changes, significant weight loss is recognized in terms of the percentage weight loss. When there is weight loss between 1%-2% in a week, 5% in a month, 7.5 % in 3 months and 10% in 6 months, then this is classified as significant weight loss . A percentage greater than that within the specified time periods is suggestive of severe weight loss. For instance, a weight loss greater than 2% in a week indicates severe weight loss and so is a percentage greater than 5% in a month. If a patient meets at least two of the characteristics and weight loss is significant, then he or she is likely malnourished.
Therefore, body weight acts as an indicator of either a declining or improving nutrition status especially among patients in hospital settings. When the 3 body weight evaluators are used along with BMI, they can inform the probability of malnutrition and the severity of particular conditions.
Blackburn GL, Bistrian BR, Maini BS, Schlamn HT, Smith MF (1977).Nutritional and metabolic assessment of the hospitalized patient. J Parenter Enteral Nutr.