Learn → Glossary → clinical methodology

Nutrition-Focused Physical Examination

Hands-on physical exam by an RDN to detect signs of macro- and micronutrient deficiency, fluid status changes, and muscle/fat loss.

Also: NFPE

The NFPE systematically inspects hair, skin, eyes, oral cavity, nails, subcutaneous fat (orbital, triceps), muscle (temporalis, clavicle, scapula, quadriceps), and detects edema. It is one of the two ASPEN/Academy criteria categories for diagnosing malnutrition and is required to fully apply the GLIM phenotypic criteria.

How one textbook covers it

  • Krause and Mahan's Food and the Nutrition Care Process, 16th ed. — Chapter 5

    The NFPE systematically inspects hair, skin, eyes, oral cavity, nails, subcutaneous fat (orbital, triceps), muscle (temporalis, clavicle, scapula, quadriceps), and detects edema. It is one of the two ASPEN/Academy criteria categories for diagnosing malnutrition and is required to fully apply the GLIM phenotypic criteria.

Related terms

Anthropometry, GLIM Criteria, Malnutrition