Which statement best describes the SGA's approach to nutrition assessment?

Which statement best describes the SGA's approach to nutrition assessment?

• A. Only objective measurements
• B. Combines patient history and physical findings
• C. Relies on laboratory values
• D. Focuses solely on caloric intake

Answer: (B)

SGA blends patient history with physical findings to assess nutritional status. By considering weight changes, dietary intake, GI symptoms, and functional capacity reported by the patient, together with physical signs such as muscle wasting, fat loss, edema, and fluid shifts observed on exam, you get a fuller picture of malnutrition than from numbers alone. This approach recognizes that illness, treatment, and metabolism affect nutrition in ways that may not be captured by labs or calorie counts, making the combination of history and physical examination the most informative method for a global nutritional assessment.

SGA blends patient history with physical findings to assess nutritional status. By considering weight changes, dietary intake, GI symptoms, and functional capacity reported by the patient, together with physical signs such as muscle wasting, fat loss, edema, and fluid shifts observed on exam, you get a fuller picture of malnutrition than from numbers alone. This approach recognizes that illness, treatment, and metabolism affect nutrition in ways that may not be captured by labs or calorie counts, making the combination of history and physical examination the most informative method for a global nutritional assessment.