ACBN Dietary Assessment & Nutrition Counseling 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which anthropometric measurement is most commonly used alongside BMI to specifically assess central (abdominal) adiposity?
- Hip circumference
- Mid-upper arm circumference
- Waist circumference (Correct answer)
- Sagittal abdominal diameter
Correct answer: Waist circumference
Waist circumference is the most widely used anthropometric measure for assessing central adiposity and associated metabolic risk, used alongside BMI.
Question 2: The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) is a validated scoring tool used primarily to measure which of the following?
- Physical activity levels relative to caloric intake
- Diet quality in relation to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (Correct answer)
- Micronutrient adequacy in clinical patient populations
- Food security status within a household
Correct answer: Diet quality in relation to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) measures diet quality by scoring adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans across multiple food and nutrient components.
Question 3: Which behavior change theory emphasizes the role of self-efficacy and learning through observing others (observational learning) in shaping dietary behavior?
- Health Belief Model
- Social Cognitive Theory (Correct answer)
- Theory of Planned Behavior
- Transtheoretical Model
Correct answer: Social Cognitive Theory
Social Cognitive Theory, developed by Bandura, highlights self-efficacy and observational learning (modeling) as key determinants of health behavior change.
Question 4: Which method of dietary assessment provides the highest degree of accuracy for measuring total energy expenditure but is the most resource-intensive?
- 24-hour dietary recall
- Food frequency questionnaire
- Doubly labeled water technique (Correct answer)
- Weighed food record
Correct answer: Doubly labeled water technique
The doubly labeled water technique measures total energy expenditure with high accuracy by tracking the differential elimination of stable isotopes (²H and ¹⁸O) from the body.
Question 5: In a comprehensive nutrition assessment, the ABCD framework refers to which four domains?
- Anthropometric, Biochemical, Clinical, Dietary (Correct answer)
- Age, Body weight, Caloric needs, Deficiencies
- Assessment, Baseline, Counseling, Documentation
- Activity, BMI, Calories, Dietary history
Correct answer: Anthropometric, Biochemical, Clinical, Dietary
The ABCD framework in nutrition assessment stands for Anthropometric data, Biochemical data, Clinical data, and Dietary data — the four core domains evaluated.
Question 6: Which Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) value represents the average daily nutrient intake level sufficient to meet the needs of 50% of healthy individuals in a specific life stage and sex group?
- Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
- Adequate Intake (AI)
- Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) (Correct answer)
- Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)
Correct answer: Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)
The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) is the daily intake level estimated to meet the needs of 50% of healthy individuals in a specific group, used to assess population-level adequacy.
Question 7: A nutritionist uses the 'ask-tell-ask' technique during a counseling session. This approach is most aligned with which counseling framework?
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing (Correct answer)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Correct answer: Motivational Interviewing
The 'ask-tell-ask' technique is a core communication strategy in Motivational Interviewing that seeks the client's permission and perspective before and after sharing information.
ACBN Dietary Assessment & Nutrition Counseling 2
Which anthropometric measurement is most commonly used alongside BMI to specifically assess central (abdominal) adiposity?