CSSD Nutrition Assessment & Counseling Strategies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A sports dietitian uses the Transtheoretical Model during counseling. Which stage describes an athlete who acknowledges needing to change eating habits but has no concrete plan within 6 months?
- Contemplation (Correct answer)
- Preparation
- Pre-contemplation
- Action
Correct answer: Contemplation
Contemplation is defined as awareness of a problem and considering change but without a specific plan within the next 6 months.
Question 2: When assessing dietary intake via a 24-hour recall, which technique helps improve accuracy by prompting athletes to remember forgotten foods?
- Multiple-Pass Method (Correct answer)
- Food Frequency Questionnaire
- Diet History
- Weighed Food Record
Correct answer: Multiple-Pass Method
The Multiple-Pass Method uses structured probing passes to systematically reduce omission errors in 24-hour recalls.
Question 3: An endurance athlete presents with low ferritin (8 ng/mL) and normal hemoglobin. This finding most likely represents which stage of iron deficiency?
- Iron depletion (Correct answer)
- Iron-deficient erythropoiesis
- Iron-deficiency anemia
- Functional iron deficiency
Correct answer: Iron depletion
Iron depletion (Stage 1) is characterized by reduced ferritin stores with normal hemoglobin and MCV.
Question 4: Which anthropometric measurement is most practical for tracking changes in body composition in an athletic population over a training season?
- Skinfold thickness sum (Correct answer)
- BMI
- Waist-to-hip ratio
- Wrist circumference
Correct answer: Skinfold thickness sum
Tracking the sum of skinfolds over time is sensitive to changes in subcutaneous fat and is practical for field-based athlete monitoring.
Question 5: A collegiate swimmer reports restricting carbohydrates before competitions to 'feel lighter.' Which counseling approach is MOST appropriate initially?
- Explore the athlete's beliefs and performance outcomes using motivational interviewing (Correct answer)
- Provide a written meal plan eliminating the restriction
- Refer immediately to a psychologist
- Advise the athlete to increase protein to compensate
Correct answer: Explore the athlete's beliefs and performance outcomes using motivational interviewing
Motivational interviewing explores the athlete's own values and beliefs, facilitating intrinsic motivation for behavior change.
Question 6: Which bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) condition would MOST significantly underestimate body fat percentage?
- Athlete is well-hydrated after a rest day
- Athlete is dehydrated after a long training session (Correct answer)
- Athlete has consumed a high-carbohydrate meal
- Athlete is tested in a thermoneutral environment
Correct answer: Athlete is dehydrated after a long training session
Dehydration reduces total body water, decreasing conductance and causing BIA to underestimate fat-free mass and overestimate body fat percentage.
Question 7: A CSSD is setting SMART goals with a high school cross-country runner. Which goal best meets SMART criteria for improving pre-race fueling?
- Consume 1 g/kg carbohydrate 2 hours before each race for the next 4 weeks (Correct answer)
- Eat more carbs before races
- Try to improve energy levels on race day
- Avoid high-fat foods whenever possible
Correct answer: Consume 1 g/kg carbohydrate 2 hours before each race for the next 4 weeks
SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound; a dose, timing, and timeframe make the first option fully SMART.
CSSD Nutrition Assessment & Counseling Strategies 2
A sports dietitian uses the Transtheoretical Model during counseling.
Which stage describes an athlete who acknowledges needing to change eating habits but has no concrete plan within 6 months?