Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) Practice Exam

How is nutrition support best described?

1. A method to exclusively provide liquid diets

2. The process of enhancing physical activity

3. A general term for providing food and liquids to improve nutritional status

4. A service focusing solely on dietary supplements

The correct answer is: A general term for providing food and liquids to improve nutritional status

Nutrition support is best described as a general term for providing food and liquids to improve nutritional status. This encompasses a wide range of practices aimed at meeting the dietary needs of individuals who may struggle to consume adequate nutrition through regular means due to medical conditions, surgeries, or other challenges. This support can include enteral nutrition (delivering nutrients directly into the gastrointestinal tract via feeding tubes) and parenteral nutrition (administering nutrients intravenously) as well as regular food that is modified in texture or composition to help individuals consume adequate nutrition. The broad nature of this definition allows for flexibility and adaptability based on individual needs, which is essential in a healthcare setting. On the other hand, other options represent more limited concepts. While a method to provide exclusively liquid diets could be part of nutrition support, it doesn't capture the entire scope of the practice. Similarly, enhancing physical activity is important for overall health but doesn’t fall under the definition of nutrition support, which focuses on nutrient provision. Lastly, a service focusing solely on dietary supplements neglects the importance of whole food sources and does not encompass the complete range of methods used to support nutritional needs.