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Nutrition is the process of how the body takes in and utilizes food and other sources of nutrients. It is a five-part process that includes intake, digestion, absorption, metabolism, and elimination. This chapter gives you an understanding of how a well-planned diet can lead to optimal health and well-being for your patients. You will also gain the knowledge needed to recognize the signs of illness related to diet. Outline
Learning OutcomesAfter completing Chapter 49, you will be able to: 49.1 Explain why a medical assistant needs to understand the role of diet in health.49.2 Describe how the body uses food. 49.3 Explain the role of calories in the diet. 49.4 Identify the seven basic food components and explain the major functions of each. 49.5 List the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 49.6 Explain how the Food Guide Pyramid can be used to plan a nutritious, well-balanced diet. 49.7 Describe the test used to assess body fat. 49.8 Identify types of patients who require special diets and the modifications required for each group. 49.9 Identify specific modified diets that may be ordered to treat or prevent certain conditions. 49.10 Describe the warning signs, symptoms, and treatment for eating disorders. 49.11 Describe techniques the medical assistant can use to effectively educate different types of patients about nutritional requirements. 49.12 Explain the medical assistant's role in educating patients about nutrition and describe the proper documentation of patient education. SummaryNutrition is a complex, highly technical topic that touches people's daily lives. It is part of your job to make good nutrition understandable and achievable for patients. You will play a major role in educating patients about special diets and in helping them implement dietary changes as instructed by physicians and dietitians. Your knowledge of basic nutritional principles and current nutritional findings will help you perform these tasks with confidence and competence. The more you learn about foods and their nutritional value, the better able you will be to educate patients about meeting their particular nutritional needs. Your knowledge about nutrition will help you teach patients a major means of supporting and improving their overall health. In some cases, your work in this area will help patients avoid or re-cover from life-threatening medical conditions. Whenever you work with patients, be alert for body weights significantly above or below the ideal. It is also important to recognize indications of eating patterns that may lead to health problems such as obesity, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia. |