Role of dietary assessments in evaluating unintentional weight loss in primary care:
Dietary assessments are essential in the evaluation of unintentional weight loss as they help identify reduced nutrient intake, which is a key factor in malnutrition risk. Screening should include assessing the time over which nutrient intake has been unintentionally reduced and the likelihood of future impaired nutrient intake. Tools such as the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) can be used to assess body mass index (BMI), percentage of unintentional weight loss, and dietary intake changes. This assessment guides decisions on whether nutrition support is needed and helps identify patients at risk of malnutrition who may require further intervention or referral. Additionally, dietary assessment can help differentiate causes of weight loss, including poor appetite, swallowing difficulties, or altered taste sensation, which are important clinical concerns to address in primary care.