Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) Practice Exam

Which parameter is NOT used to determine nutritional status in a clinical assessment?

1. Determining weight and height

2. Measuring of skin folds

3. Determining muscle strength

4. Bicycle ergometer

The correct answer is: Bicycle ergometer

In clinical assessments for determining nutritional status, various parameters are utilized to gather comprehensive data about an individual's health and nutritional needs. Weight and height measurement provides fundamental information to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI), which helps assess whether an individual is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. Measuring skin folds allows for the estimation of body fat percentage, providing insights into body composition, which is vital for understanding nutritional reserves. Determining muscle strength offers additional clues to nutritional status, as it can indicate the presence of malnutrition or muscle wasting. The bicycle ergometer, while valuable in assessing physical fitness and exercise capacity, does not directly measure the nutritional status of an individual. Instead, it serves primarily as a tool for evaluating cardiovascular and muscular performance under controlled conditions, making it less relevant for direct nutritional assessment. Thus, it is not a standard parameter used to evaluate an individual's nutritional status in clinical settings.