RDN Lifecycle Nutrition 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A pregnant woman at 28 weeks gestation reports consuming no fish or seafood. Which nutrient is she most likely deficient in that is critical for fetal brain development?
- Iron
- DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) (Correct answer)
- Folate
- Calcium
Correct answer: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found primarily in fatty fish, is essential for fetal brain and retinal development during the third trimester.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the recommended weight gain for a woman with a pre-pregnancy BMI of 17.5 kg/m²?
- 11–16 kg (25–35 lbs)
- 7–11 kg (15–25 lbs)
- 12.5–18 kg (28–40 lbs) (Correct answer)
- 5–9 kg (11–20 lbs)
Correct answer: 12.5–18 kg (28–40 lbs)
Women who are underweight (BMI <18.5) are advised to gain 12.5–18 kg (28–40 lbs) during a singleton pregnancy per IOM guidelines.
Question 3: A breastfeeding mother asks about her iodine needs. Compared to her pre-pregnancy requirement of 150 mcg/day, what is the RDA during lactation?
- 150 mcg/day
- 220 mcg/day
- 290 mcg/day (Correct answer)
- 350 mcg/day
Correct answer: 290 mcg/day
The iodine RDA increases to 290 mcg/day during lactation to support adequate secretion of iodine in breast milk for infant thyroid function.
Question 4: An 8-month-old infant is introduced to pureed meat. What is the PRIMARY nutritional reason for introducing meat at this age?
- Protein for muscle development
- Iron to replace declining fetal iron stores (Correct answer)
- Zinc for immune function
- B12 for neurological development
Correct answer: Iron to replace declining fetal iron stores
Fetal iron stores are largely depleted by 4–6 months, making iron-rich complementary foods like pureed meat critical to prevent iron-deficiency anemia.
Question 5: Which feeding pattern is associated with the greatest risk of dental caries in toddlers?
- Breastfeeding on demand after 12 months
- Offering a sippy cup of water between meals
- Allowing a bottle of juice or milk at bedtime (Correct answer)
- Introducing solid foods before 4 months
Correct answer: Allowing a bottle of juice or milk at bedtime
Prolonged exposure to fermentable carbohydrates from a bedtime bottle of juice or milk causes early childhood caries (baby bottle tooth decay).
Question 6: A 4-year-old child has a BMI at the 87th percentile. According to CDC growth chart classifications, this child is categorized as:
- Healthy weight
- Overweight (Correct answer)
- Obese
- Severely obese
Correct answer: Overweight
For children ages 2–19, overweight is defined as BMI-for-age between the 85th and 94th percentile.
Question 7: An adolescent female athlete reports fatigue and irregular menstrual cycles with a restrictive diet. Which triad of conditions does this pattern suggest?
- Celiac disease, anemia, hypothyroidism
- Female Athlete Triad: low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, low bone density (Correct answer)
- Overtraining syndrome, iron deficiency, vitamin D deficiency
- Disordered eating, polycystic ovary syndrome, stress fractures
Correct answer: Female Athlete Triad: low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, low bone density
The Female Athlete Triad is characterized by low energy availability (with or without disordered eating), menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density.
RDN Lifecycle Nutrition 2
A pregnant woman at 28 weeks gestation reports consuming no fish or seafood.
Which nutrient is she most likely deficient in that is critical for fetal brain development?