Torillas, Cheyenne BSN 1

Chapter 13
Assessing Nutritional Status
Chapter Pretest

Term Description
E 1. Body Mass Index (BMI) A. Used to evaluate subcutaneous fat stores
D 2. Visceral Fat B. Used to assess skeletal muscle mass
A 3. Triceps Skinfold C. Malnutrition sometimes seen in clients with
cancer.
B 4. Mid-arm circumference D. Excess fat within the abdominal cavity
C 5. Cachexia E. Estimate total body fat

Chapter Post Test

A 1. The nurse is caring for an adult female client whose BMI is 38.7. The nurse should instruct the client
that she is at greater risk for
a. Heart attack
b. Osteoporosis
c. Rheumatoid arthritis
d. Stomach cancer
B 2. Waist circumference guidelines may not be accurate for adult client who are shorter than 152.4 c, (5
ft) in height. This restriction is also a concern for which other anthropometric measurement?
a. Ideal weight
b. Mid-arm circumference
c. Body mass index (BMI)
d. Triceps skinfold measurements
B 3. Based only on anthropometric measurements, which set of clients listed below are at the greater risk
for diabetes and cardiovascular disease?
a. Clients with a BMI of 23
b. Females with 88.9 cm (35 in) or greater waist circumference.
c. Males with 88.9 cm (35 in) or greater waist circumference.
d. Clients with a BMI of 20
Torillas, Cheyenne BSN 1

A 4. What is the most common measurement used to determine abdominal visceral fat?
a. Waist circumference
b. Body mass index
c. Subcutaneous fat determination
d. Triceps skinfold thickness
D 5. Because BMI is calculated using only height and weight, the nurse knows that inaccurate findings
would most likely occur in a client.
a. With diabetes
b. Who is 82.8 cm (6 ft) tall
c. With osteoarthritis
d. Who is a body builder
D 6. The nurse documents that a 45-year-old male is 177.8 cm tall and weighs 97.5 kg. He tells the nurse
that he “has a good appetite, but doesn’t get much exercise because of his busy work schedule”. An
appropriate NANDA nursing diagnosis for the client is
a. Normal body nutrition related to healthy eating patterns and good appetite
b. Altered nutrition, more than body requirements related to intake greater than calories
expanded.
c. Risk for altered nutrition, more than body requirements related to lack of routine exercise.
d. Obesity related to lack of exercise.
B 7. The nurse is preparing to measure the triceps skinfold of an adult client. The nurse should
a. Ask the client to assume a sitting position
b. Measure the triceps skinfold in the dominant arm
c. Repeat the procedure three times and average the measurements
d. Pull the skin toward the muscle mass of the arm
C 8. Of the following measurements, which one helps to determine if a client is underweight, normal
weight or obese?
a. Mid-arm circumference
b. Triceps skinfold
c. Body mass index
d. Waist-hip ratio
B 9. When would a nurse obtain a mid-arm circumference measurement?
a. To confirm an abnormal albumin level
b. To provide percentage of body fat and muscle tissue
c. To screen for nutritional excess or deficits
d. To assist in determining body mass index
Torillas, Cheyenne BSN 1