Diet and Nutrition Counseling
Diet and Nutrition Counseling consists in an evaluation of patient nutritional status, in order to be able to diagnose a possible picture of malnutrition.
The term malnutrition is used to describe a deficiency, excess or imbalance of a wide range of nutrients, resulting in a measurable adverse effect on body composition, function and clinical outcome.
Malnutrition can be divided into two different types:
- overnutrition: oversupplied intake of nutrients that can lead to overweight or obesity, conditions that can increase cardiovascular (hypertension, heart attack, stroke) and metabolic (diabetes mellitus) risk
- undernutrition: condition characterized by weight loss and linked to some mental disorders such as anorexia, to infections such as tuberculosis, to cancer, to nosocomial causes such as total parenteral nutrition
Diet and Nutrition Counseling differs according to the patient nutritional status.
In case of overnutrition, the aim is to reduce the cardiovascular and metabolic risk. Pathology specific dietary recommendations are provided with particular attention to any associated comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hepatic or renal insufficiency.
In case of undernutrition, the purpose is to improve the patient nutritional status, avoiding the onset of important deficiencies.
The Diet and Nutrition Counseling has no contraindications.
The Diet and Nutrition Counseling has no risks.
The execution of this counseling does not include preparation rules.
Please bring all your medications or a list of them with doses to your appointment.
The Diet and Nutrition Counseling consists of the following phases:
- collection of patient anamnesis, i.e. information relating to the patient's clinical history, lifestyle, family history of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders
- physical examination that consists of the following measurements:
- weight and height for BMI (Body Mass Index) calculation, a parameter used to categorize a person as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese
- arm circumference, in case of an underweight patient
- waist circumference, in case of an overweight or obese patient
- screening for complications
Additional diagnostic tests may be required.