Nutrition Assessment

Nutrition Assessment

	Normal Findings	Suggests Malnutrition
Demeanor	Alert and responsive with a positive outlook	Lethargic, negative attitude
Weight	Reasonable for build	Underweight, overweight, or obese
Hair	Glossy, full, firmly rooted, and uniform in color	Dull, sparse, easily and painlessly plucked
Eyes	Bright, clear, and shiny	Pale conjunctiva, redness, dryness
Lips	Smooth	Chapped, red, and swollen
Tongue	Deep red and slightly rough with one longitudinal furrow	Bright red or purple, swollen or shrunken, several longitudinal furrows
Teeth	Bright and painless	Cavities, painful, mottled, or missing
Gums	Pink and firm	Spongy, bleeding, receding
Skin	Clear, smooth, firm, and not excessively dry	Rashes, swelling, light or dark spots, excessive dryness
Nails	Pink and firm	Spoon-shaped; ridged, spongy bases
Mobility	Erect posture, good muscle tone, walks without difficulty	Muscle wasting, skeletal deformities, loss of balance