Chapter 40 - Obesity Flashcards
- Which statement by the nurse is most likely to help a morbidly obese 22-year-old man in losing weight on a 1000-calorie diet?
a. It will be necessary to change lifestyle habits permanently to maintain weight loss.
b. You will decrease your risk for future health problems such as diabetes by losing weight now.
c. You are likely to notice changes in how you feel with just a few weeks of diet and exercise.
d. Most of the weight that you lose during the first weeks of dieting is water weight rather than fat.
ANS: C You are likely to notice changes in how you feel with just a few weeks of diet and exercise.
Motivation is a key factor in successful weight loss and a short-term outcome provides a higher motivation. A 22-year-old patient is unlikely to be motivated by future health problems. Telling a patient that the initial weight loss is water will be discouraging, although this may be correct. Changing lifestyle habits is necessary, but this process occurs over time and discussing this is not likely to motivate the patient.
- After the nurse teaches a patient about the recommended amounts of foods from animal and plant sources, which menu selections indicate that the initial instructions about diet have been understood?
a. 3 oz of lean beef, 2 oz of low-fat cheese, and a tomato slice
b. 3 oz of roasted pork, a cup of corn, and a cup of carrot sticks
c. Cup of tossed salad and nonfat dressing topped with a chicken breast
d. Half cup of tuna mixed with nonfat mayonnaise and a half cup of celery
ANS: B 3 oz of roasted pork, a cup of corn, and a cup of carrot sticks
This selection is most consistent with the recommendation of the American Institute for Cancer Research that one third of the diet should be from animal sources and two thirds from plant source foods. The other choices all have higher ratios of animal origin foods to plant source foods than would be recommended.
- Which nursing action is appropriate when coaching obese adults enrolled in a behavior modification program?
a. Having the adults write down the caloric intake of each meal
b. Asking the adults about situations that tend to increase appetite
c. Suggesting that the adults plan rewards, such as sugarless candy, for achieving their goals
d. Encouraging the adults to eat small amounts frequently rather than having scheduled meals
ANS: B Asking the adults about situations that tend to increase appetite
Behavior modification programs focus on how and when the person eats and de-emphasize aspects such as calorie counting. Nonfood rewards are recommended for achievement of weight-loss goals. Patients are often taught to restrict eating to designated meals when using behavior modification.
- The nurse is coaching a community group for individuals who are overweight. Which participant behavior is an example of the best exercise plan for weight loss?
a.
Walking for 40 minutes 6 or 7 days/week
b.
Lifting weights with friends 3 times/week
c.
Playing soccer for an hour on the weekend
d.
Running for 10 to 15 minutes 3 times/week
ANS: A
Exercise should be done daily for 30 minutes to an hour. Exercising in highly aerobic activities for short bursts or only once a week is not helpful and may be dangerous in an individual who has not been exercising. Running may be appropriate, but a patient should start with an exercise that is less stressful and can be done for a longer period. Weight lifting is not as helpful as aerobic exercise in weight loss.
- A few months after bariatric surgery, a 56-year-old man tells the nurse, My skin is hanging in folds. I think I need cosmetic surgery. Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?
a.
The important thing is that you are improving your health.
b.
The skinfolds will disappear once most of the weight is lost.
c.
Cosmetic surgery is a possibility once your weight has stabilized.
d.
Perhaps you would like to talk to a counselor about your body image.
ANS: C
Reconstructive surgery may be used to eliminate excess skinfolds after at least a year has passed since the surgery. Skinfolds may not disappear over time, especially in older patients. The response, The important thing is that your weight loss is improving your health, ignores the patients concerns about appearance and implies that the nurse knows what is important. Whereas it may be helpful for the patient to talk to a counselor, it is more likely to be helpful to know that cosmetic surgery is available.
- After vertical banded gastroplasty, a 42-year-old male patient returns to the surgical nursing unit with a nasogastric tube to low, intermittent suction and a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) machine for pain control. Which nursing action should be included in the postoperative plan of care?
a.
Offer sips of fruit juices at frequent intervals.
b.
Irrigate the nasogastric (NG) tube frequently.
c.
Remind the patient that PCA use may slow the return of bowel function.
d.
Support the surgical incision during patient coughing and turning in bed.
ANS: D
The incision should be protected from strain to decrease the risk for wound dehiscence. The patient should be encouraged to use the PCA because pain control will improve the cough effort and patient mobility. NG irrigation may damage the suture line or overfill the stomach pouch. Sugar-free clear liquids are offered during the immediate postoperative time to decrease the risk for dumping syndrome.
- The nurse will be teaching self-management to patients after gastric bypass surgery. Which information will the nurse plan to include?
a.
Drink fluids between meals but not with meals.
b.
Choose high-fat foods for at least 30% of intake.
c.
Developing flabby skin can be prevented by exercise.
d.
Choose foods high in fiber to promote bowel function.
ANS: A
Intake of fluids with meals tends to cause dumping syndrome and diarrhea. Food choices should be low in fat and fiber. Exercise does not prevent the development of flabby skin.
- Which assessment action will help the nurse determine if an obese patient has metabolic syndrome?
a.
Take the patients apical pulse.
b.
Check the patients blood pressure.
c.
Ask the patient about dietary intake.
d.
Dipstick the patients urine for protein.
ANS: B
Elevated blood pressure is one of the characteristics of metabolic syndrome. The other information also may be obtained by the nurse, but it will not assist with the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.
- When teaching a patient about testing to diagnose metabolic syndrome, which topic would the nurse include?
a.
Blood glucose test
b.
Cardiac enzyme tests
c.
Postural blood pressures
d.
Resting electrocardiogram
ANS: A
A fasting blood glucose test >100 mg/dL is one of the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome. The other tests are not used to diagnose metabolic syndrome although they may be used to check for cardiovascular complications of the disorder.
- What information will the nurse include for an overweight 35-year-old woman who is starting a weight-loss plan?
a.
Weigh yourself at the same time every morning and evening.
b.
Stick to a 600- to 800-calorie diet for the most rapid weight loss.
c.
Low carbohydrate diets lead to rapid weight loss but are difficult to maintain.
d.
Weighing all foods on a scale is necessary to choose appropriate portion sizes.
ANS: C
The restrictive nature of fad diets makes the weight loss achieved by the patient more difficult to maintain. Portion size can be estimated in other ways besides weighing. Severely calorie-restricted diets are not necessary for patients in the overweight category of obesity and need to be closely supervised. Patients should weigh weekly rather than daily.
- Which adult will the nurse plan to teach about risks associated with obesity?
a.
Man who has a BMI of 18 kg/m2
b.
Man with a 42 in waist and 44 in hips
c.
Woman who has a body mass index (BMI) of 24 kg/m2
d.
Woman with a waist circumference of 34 inches (86 cm)
ANS: B
The waist-to-hip ratio for this patient is 0.95, which exceeds the recommended level of <0.80. A patient with a BMI of 18 kg/m2 is considered underweight. A BMI of 24 kg/m2 is normal. Health risks associated with obesity increase in women with a waist circumference larger than 35 in (89 cm) and men with a waist circumference larger than 40 in (102 cm).
- A 61-year-old man is being admitted for bariatric surgery. Which nursing action can the nurse delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
a.
Demonstrate use of the incentive spirometer.
b.
Plan methods for bathing and turning the patient.
c.
Assist with IV insertion by holding adipose tissue out of the way.
d.
Develop strategies to provide privacy and decrease embarrassment.
ANS: C
UAP can assist with IV placement by assisting with patient positioning or holding skinfolds aside. Planning for care and patient teaching require registered nurse (RN)level education and scope of practice.
- After successfully losing 1 lb weekly for several months, a patient at the clinic has not lost any weight for the last month. The nurse should first
a.
review the diet and exercise guidelines with the patient.
b.
instruct the patient to weigh and record weights weekly.
c.
ask the patient whether there have been any changes in exercise or diet patterns.
d.
discuss the possibility that the patient has reached a temporary weight loss plateau.
ANS: C
The initial nursing action should be assessment of any reason for the change in weight loss. The other actions may be needed, but further assessment is required before any interventions are planned or implemented.
- Which finding for a patient who has been taking orlistat (Xenical) is most important to report to the health care provider?
a.
The patient frequently has liquid stools.
b.
The patient is pale and has many bruises.
c.
The patient complains of bloating after meals.
d.
The patient is experiencing a weight loss plateau.
ANS: B
Because orlistat blocks the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, the patient may not be receiving an adequate amount of vitamin K, resulting in a decrease in clotting factors. Abdominal bloating and liquid stools are common side effects of orlistat and indicate that the nurse should remind the patient that fat in the diet may increase these side effects. Weight loss plateaus are normal during weight reduction.
- A 40-year-old obese woman reports that she wants to lose weight. Which question should the nurse ask first?
a.
What factors led to your obesity?
b.
Which types of food do you like best?
c.
How long have you been overweight?
d.
What kind of activities do you enjoy?
ANS: A
The nurse should obtain information about the patients perceptions of the reasons for the obesity to develop a plan individualized to the patient. The other information also will be obtained from the patient, but the patient is more likely to make changes when the patients beliefs are considered in planning.
