Assessing Your Own Nutritional Status

An overall assessment of your nutritional status can be made by the methods shown in Figure 16 and Figure 17. (You may find it helpful to refer to the introductory section of the Food Charts.)

You should be able to get an indication of whether you are consuming too much or not enough of any particular nutrient. However, this exercise is designed to help you learn about a healthy diet rather than be an exact guide. If you want to know precisely, or suspect a health problem is due to nutrient deficiency or excess, you should consult a doctor.

Figure 16 shows three ways by which you can assess your nutritional status; you can then decide from Figure 17 whether you are 'too fat'.