[L3 Principles of Nutrition] Section 3: Setting goals and collecting, using and analysing nutritional information Flashcards
Prior to collecting a client’s personal information on health and diet, it is vital that the health professional has obtained what? Why is it needed?
A written and signed informed consent form.
This will protect both the trainer and the client and
ensure that sensitive information remains confidential.
List some methods that can be used to gather information from a client that will help the trainer offer advice on nutrition.
• Questionnaires (e.g. lifestyle, PAR-Q, medical,
nutritional).
• Food diary.
• Interview/consultation.
• Short- and long-term observation (e.g. body
language, behaviours, habits, reactions, emotions,
health).
• Nutritional testing/assessing.
It is very important that a sufficient amount of accurate information is gathered when? And why?
Prior to offering advice and direction.
- This will help the professional to fully understand
the client’s current situation. - Gives foundation for determining the correct,
individualized stages of change
During the consultation process, when gathering information through interviewing, the consultant should:
- Communicate clearly and effectively (to be sure that the knowledge shared is understood by both the trainer and the client).
- Generate enthusiasm and motivation for change.
- Be aware of the effect of their personal attitudes and beliefs
- Avoid being too judgemental.
- Understand the constraints on an individual’s health and nutrition behaviour (including family, employment, and cultural or religious considerations).
- Foresee any obstacles that may reduce the client’s adherence to nutritional change (and investigate these tactfully, using appropriate questioning).
- Determine a variety of options suitable to the client’s lifestyle that will move them towards their goals.
When sensitive information is gathered, in any context, we must conform to the regulations of what Act?
The Data Protection Act 1998.
Why is it advised that some form of food diary is utilised to obtain a more accurate base of information to work from?
Because clients often answer questionnaires in a way that emphasises what they perceive to be the positive elements of their dietary habits and minimises the areas that they perceive to be ‘bad’.
List the best practices for using a food diary.
• Complete the diary after each meal, not at the end of
the day.
• Record accurately what was eaten.
• Identify amounts eaten where possible.
• Identify food brands and quality of food where
possible.
• Note the time of intake.
• Specify any fluid intake (e.g. water, coffee, soft drinks,
alcohol).
• Note when activity or exercise was done.
• Assess energy, mood and mental clarity one to two
hours after food was eaten.
When giving feedback to a client on their food diary, this may be too much for a client to get to grips with in one go.
In this case, how should you present the client’s areas of change?
In this case, the areas of change should be prioritised by: - Considering which are most nutritionally important
- The changes that are the easiest to make.
It is important not to upset or offend a client, but it’s still your duty to honestly inform them of bad nutritional habits.
How should you go about this?
- The areas of concern should first be highlighted in a factual, non-judgemental manner.
- Next, through appropriate questioning, the client’s willingness to change in this specific area should be ascertained.
- This may be done across each topic area where the trainer feels the need for some adjustment in dietary habits.
- By listening to the client’s verbal responses, the tone and pitch of their voice and observing their facial expressions and body language, the trainer will have a good idea which areas the client feels greater willingness (and greater resistance) to change
What goals may a client have in mind when it comes to nutrition?
- Body fat reduction or weight loss.
- Improve muscle tone.
- Improve eating patterns.
- Fuel exercise and/or sport.
Good health is dependent on what three things?
Nutrition, exercise, and rest
A good understanding of the behavioural change model will aid the trainer to?
[The behavioural change model]
- Assessing how well a client is managing to alter their lifestyle.
- It will also help the trainer to implement suitable behavioural change strategies
What are the stages of change?
[The behavioural change model]
- Precontemplation
- Contemplation
- Action
- Maintenance -> Stable
- Relapse
What types of barriers may clients wanting to make change face?
[The behavioural change model]
- Enjoying the taste of less healthy food.
- Comfort eating to improve feelings and emotions during stressful times.
- Financial concerns over the cost of better quality food.
- Family members, spouse or partner may not want to change.
- Time constraints may support low-quality, convenience eating.
- Difficulty breaking old habits.
What is ‘Change talk’ and why is it important to hear this when consulting with a client?
[The behavioural change model]
Change talk refers to the client’s expression of their desire, ability, reason and need to change behaviour and their commitment to changing.
It is important because when people talk about change themselves, they are more likely to change than if someone else (such as a nutritional adviser) talks about it.
What is ‘Sustain talk’ and why is it important to avoid/shift away from this when consulting with a client?
[The behavioural change model]
Sustain talk involves the client’s reasons to sustain (or not make a change to) current behaviours.
Do not elicit, and thereby risk reinforcing, sustain talk. Instead, shift the focus to change talk, if possible, when sustain talk emerges.
Why is it important to reinforce good behaviour?
Behaviour that is reinforced tends to be repeated (is
strengthened). Behaviour that is not reinforced tends
to die out or be extinguished (is weakened).
What is self-monitoring? Why is it useful?
[Basic motivational strategies]
Recording thoughts, feelings, and situations before, during and after the target behaviour.
Strategies can then be developed to cope with barriers and make good use of available support networks.
How would you implement reinforcement?
[Basic motivational strategies]
• Reward positive results and small achievements.
• Monitor positive progress and compare to previous
performance.
• Social support from family, friends and colleagues.
What are the best practices for behavioral contracts?
[Basic motivational strategies]
• Should include clear, realistic objectives and
deadlines.
• Tailor to the individual.
• Follow up and re-evaluate regularly during the
maintenance stage.
Why and how should you implement periodic testing for positive reinforcement?
[Basic motivational strategies]
- To give information about progress towards goals and the opportunity to provide positive reinforcement and curb regressive behaviors.
- Should map in with goals across various time frames set.
- Could include body fat, BMI, circumferential measures and food diary analysis.
