NSCI 3223: Nutrition Across the Life Span

Case Study 17.1 Maintaining a Healthy Weight

Due in dropbox before class: April 19

Adam is 5’ 11” tall and weighs 190 pounds. He is a single father with two teenage sons. The
commute to and from his software development job takes about 90 minutes. He likes his
coworkers and the work environment and is happy that his workplace provides a cafeteria, so
he doesn’t have to bring a lunch. He believes it is important for the family to have a “hot meal”
every night, but he mostly relies on frozen entrees or take-out to accomplish this. Frequently,
the evening meal is from the drive-through window of a fast-food restaurant on the way to his
sons’ sport events. Adam is an avid football and basketball fan and spends many hours
watching televised games. In his spare time, he is restoring an old car with his sons.

Questions
Assessment

1. Calculate Adam’s current BMI. How would you classify his weight status?
His current BMI is 26.5 and his weight status would fall under the “overweight”
category.
2. What would you consider a healthy BMI and “healthy weight” for Adam?
I would consider a healthy BMI to be anywhere from about 21 to 25 and a healthy
weight would be from 155 to 179.
3. What lifestyle and dietary factors are related to Adams weight status?
Frozen meals and take-out largely influence his weight status and probably his lack of
exercise as well.
4. When counseling, what nutrition education topics and suggestions would you
discuss with Adam?
I would suggest that rather having frozen meals or take-out or some sort of fast food, he
should put effort into actually cooking. It doesn’t have to be extravagant to be healthy, I
would also suggest that although it is never bad to watch sports television it might be
smart to actually engage in the sport and play with his two sons.