Chapter 12: Client Assessment and Goal Setting

Question 1

What are the different categories of assessments that we can utilize with our clientele?

Answer 1

When we are building rapport with a client, a nutrition coach may do many different
assessments to get the information needed and to establish a baseline for their clients. The assessments that exist are:
a. Personal assessments: this includes things like a client’s demographic information and answers to general questions regarding starting goals and how they hear about the coach.
b. Physical assessments: data like weight, age, height, measurements, and body fat percentage when possible.
c. Health assessments: the current and past health history via a health questionnaire.
d. Physical activity assessments: information about the level of physical activity the
client may be doing now and how often.
e. Photographic assessments: these are photos of the client to track progress well. Take pics of all 3 sides.
f. Behavioral assessments: these assessments are things like food diaries that track
days to get a big picture of the client’s eating and snacking behaviors.
g. Psychological assessments: the stages of change and the level of motivation a
client might be in and their progress in it.

Question 2

List the pros and cons of the various physical examinations.

Answer 2

The Pros and Cons of the many types of physical exams:
a. Weight is an easy measure to collect, but changes in weight do not explain the
actual stuff changing.
b. Height is easily known off the top of someone’s head and it is helpful in body
comp assessments, and there are no real Cons with it.
c. Body composition works to give in-depth details regarding both body mass and
the amount of fat in the body, and a con is that it may be difficult to properly
calculate if the proper tools are not available.
d. Circumference measures are helpful for calculating body composition, and a con
is that not all clients will know how to accurately gather their data for this.
e. Skinfold measure are very helpful when it comes to the use for body composition,
but most clients will not have the tools or the consistency when measuring such things.

Question 3

3. What questions are best to ask when doing a behavioral assessment?

Answer 3

There are many types of questions to ask during assessments of behavior. Here are some examples:
i. Do you eat when you have nothing to do?
ii. Do you often eat at night?
iii. How long after waking do you have your first meal?
iv. What do you do when you feel a lot of stress?
v. Does eating bring you comfort?
vi. Do you feel a loss of control when you are near food?
vii. Do you eat at times that would be considered odd?
viii. Do you eat when you feel full or until the point of not being able to eat
more?
ix. Does food make you feel bad?

Question 4

4. Know the three types of goals that we can set and help our clients set.

Answer 4

There are many different types of goals that someone can have, but for nutrition coaching, we focus on three different forms of goals. These are physical, health, and behavior goals. These are often what we see used in this line of work. Physical goals are very subjective and may be measured and reassessed often. An example would be reducing body fat percentage by 2 percent in 3 months, or bench pressing a specific weight in six weeks. Health goals revolve around the health of the client and includes things like not needed medication for chronic conditions, getting seven or more hours of sleep each night, and reducing blood pressure by some level. Behavior goals are the ones that involve specific changes to one’s own behavior. This can be with things like drinking just one cup of coffee each day, consuming 15 grams of protein for breakfast each day, eating dessert one time in a week, or exercising 20 minutes every day of the week.

Question 5

5. What are SMART goals? Show how each of the letters in the acronym can be utilized.

Answer 5

SMART goals are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. These goals allow for optimal success for clients and coaches when setting goals. Specific goals are ones that describe exactly what needs to be accomplished. Measurable goals are ones that can be evaluated with the use of metrics. Attainable means that the goals are possible to be done. Realistic goals are ones that make sense to the client. Timely goals are the goals that are able and reasonable to be done in a specific amount of time.

Question 6

6. Give an example of how one specific goal can meet each of the letters in SMART goals.

Answer 6

Specific: the client eats 3 servings of vegetables every day.
Measurable: the client can physically measure 3 servings of veggies.
Attainable: it is possible to eat 3 servings of veggies.
Realistic: the client currently eats veggies often already and they have access to a grocery store to buy them.
Timely: the client wants to do this in a month or some weeks.

Question 7

7. What are the steps we should follow to set a goal?

Answer 7

1. find the desired result of the client and the willingness to do the work to get there.
2. create a SMART goal. 3. write this goal down.
3. create a plan of action for this goal.
4. establish a timeline for the goal.
5. act.
6. reevaluate and assess for progress.