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by GardenDove

Why is it that, on our assessment intake, we always question pts about cigarettes and drinking, but there's not section about their eating habits? I ask this because I just watched the movie Supersize Me, which you probably already know is about the dangers of fast food.

We all know that obesity is a huge public menace. Why don't we start emphasizing it more in our pt education? For instance, why not ask pts how often they eat fast food? According to the movie, our consumption of fastfood is directly related to our weight. The guy in the movie also had dramatic changes to his bloodwork lab values.

I think it's high time for us to start including that in our pt teaching. I also think hospital cafeterias should quit offering junk food themselves. This epidemic is the cause of so many chronic illnesses, it's no joke.

[Mommy TeleRN]

Re: Why not question pts about their eating habits?

Our admission history has a place for "diet" but no real definition of what we are supposed to ask. I usually ask them if they are on any special diet or restrictions (we get lots of diabetes and sodium restricted patients) but I suppose you could ask what a typical day is and put that in there too.

Poor diet/lack of exercise is definitely a health risk! We do also have a new place for BMI on our history. We have a chart by the front desk but so far I never input that because well - I have the computer in their room doing the history and the chart is at the front desk.

It almost seems like weight is still a taboo subject - you feel like you'll offend? And doesn't it seem like dietary consults are for UNDERnourished people - like if they've lost a huge amt of weight recently, have pegs or TPN, stuff like that. Who does a dietary consult for TOO MUCH food?

Food for thought (no pun intended)

[CHATSDALE]

Re: Why not question pts about their eating habits?

over consumption of food will obesity where ever the excess comes from
i am not saying that fast food is healthy but you have to use common sense
and yo have to get that body out and move it, i have had pts who were in vegetative state and given tube feeding per dietitian recommendations and they gained weight

[GardenDove]

Re: Why not question pts about their eating habits?

I wonder if discussing weight is still a taboo still in this country. Maybe because it's so visable? I think, though, in light of national trends, that we need an anti-junkfood campaign similar to the anti-smoking one that started in the 70's. I think we're already seeing it happen, such as banning trans-fats. We need to get on the bandwagon with this, and start emphasizing it more.

[HeartsOpenWide]

Re: Why not question pts about their eating habits?

I am in a BSN program that is holistic and we use Gordon's and when we did assessments we asked our clients 24-hour diet

[iceyspots]

Re: Why not question pts about their eating habits?

yes... overconsumption seems to be a problem needing to be addressed...

[GardenDove]

Re: Why not question pts about their eating habits?

Originally Posted by HeartsOpenWide

I am in a BSN program that is holistic and we use Gordon's and when we did assessments we asked our clients 24-hour diet

This must be the new trend. Glad to hear it!

[AtlantaRN]

Re: Why not question pts about their eating habits?

probably because we don't want people to feel bad....it's like kids in school that get ribbons on field day because we don't want them to feel bad because they didn't win...just a thought.

I posted on another forum about a person who was seated in one of those electric chairs, 350-400lb range height 5'1"; her mother tipped over a walker while seated and I rushed over to pick the walker up so the mother wouldn't fall; I did so because I KNEW the woman in the electric chair couldn't have picked up ANYTHING on the floor because she is physically unable to do so....anywhoo on this other, nonmedical forum....I was CHASTISED because I posted her size.............................................. ...................................They accused me of having a problem with overweight persons (truth be told i'm 5'2" and am pushing the 200lb range...yes I eat badly, but I don't deny it.)
ANYWHOO, my point is, we have gotten to where we are politically correct to a fault. No one is responsible for thier own consumption anymore.................

Just my opinion; but I do believe a review of intake could steer patients to a healthier lifestyle, should they choose to do so. we can at least give them the tools.

linda

[angel337]

Re: Why not question pts about their eating habits?

i do ask patients about their regular eating habit, especially when it might be related to their complaints such as chronic abdominal pain, reflux etc... i do this because alot of patients don't realize that what they eat affects how they feel. i agree that people are touchy about food and weight, but its not what you ask, but how you ask it.

[GardenDove]

Re: Why not question pts about their eating habits?

But, we're not too sensitive to smokers and drinkers. We banish smokers to an alley somewhere. We have a big anti-smoking part of our intake assessment sheet where we're supposed to lecture smokers. We have CAGE screening where we ask if they drink >7 drinks a week, if they feel guilty, etc. They are blunt questions.