A 75-year-old female client reports that she has lost 20 pounds in the last 3 months and now weighs 100 pounds; she is 5?3?. She complains that food has lost its taste, and when she does eat, she develops severe heartburn. She is now in your office for assessment. Her daily intake is 1000 calories with 35 grams of protein. A sampling of her typical daily menu is as follows:
$$\begin{array} { l l }
1 \text { cup nonfat milk } & 1 / 3 \text { cup cooked rice } \
1 \text { medium apple } & 1 / 2 \text { cup cooked zucchini } \
1 \text { slice bread } + 3 \text { Tbsp butter } & 2 \text { oz ground beef } \
1 \text { cup black coffee } + 3 \text { Tbsp sugar } & 1 \text { cup orange juice } \
& 1 \text { oz cheddar cheese } \
& \text { Black coffee } \
& 2 \text { martinis before dinner }
\end{array}$$

How does the client's intake compare to her estimated protein needs?

Question

A 75-year-old female client reports that she has lost 20 pounds in the last 3 months and now weighs 100 pounds; she is 5?3?. She complains that food has lost its taste, and when she does eat, she develops severe heartburn. She is now in your office for assessment. Her daily intake is 1000 calories with 35 grams of protein. A sampling of her typical daily menu is as follows:
$$\begin{array} { l l } 
1 \text { cup nonfat milk } & 1 / 3 \text { cup cooked rice } \
1 \text { medium apple } & 1 / 2 \text { cup cooked zucchini } \
1 \text { slice bread } + 3 \text { Tbsp butter } & 2 \text { oz ground beef } \
1 \text { cup black coffee } + 3 \text { Tbsp sugar } & 1 \text { cup orange juice } \
& 1 \text { oz cheddar cheese } \
& \text { Black coffee } \
& 2 \text { martinis before dinner }
\end{array}$$
 
How does the client's intake compare to her estimated protein needs?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The client's intake is low compared to her estimated protein needs. For a 75-year-old female weighing 100 pounds (approximately 45.5 kg), the general recommendation for protein intake is 1-1.5 g/kg/day, especially for older adults to prevent muscle loss. This translates to about 45.5 to 68.25 g per day, making option D correct as it falls within this recommended range.

A 75-Year-Old Female Client Reports That She Has Lost 20