A frail 82-year-old has lost weight and eats very little. What is the priority?

Assess and support their nutrition, as undernutrition is the concern

Advise them to lose more weight

Assume it is normal ageing and do nothing

Restrict their calories further

A patient with obesity feels judged by previous clinicians. What is the best approach?

Give supportive, realistic advice without judgement and agree small goals

Emphasise how much weight they must lose immediately

Tell them it is simply about eating less

Part B2 of 8 Promoting Health and Preventing Ill Health Chapter 30 of 75

Nutrition, Obesity and Lifestyle Advice Questions

NMC CBT nutrition practice: the Eatwell Guide, BMI categories, activity guidance, non-judgemental advice, and worked scenario answers.

Start reading ← NMC CBT hub ~5 min read

By JobLabs Editorial · UK healthcare reference editorial team

· July 16, 2026 · Updated Jul 17, 2026 · 2 min read

Nutrition and lifestyle advice is everyday nursing, and the CBT tests whether you can give it accurately and kindly. The questions reward practical knowledge, BMI categories, the Eatwell Guide, activity guidance, and a non-judgemental manner over lectures.

Reading BMI

You should know the adult categories without hesitation. Below 18.5 is underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 is a healthy weight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 or above is obese. BMI is a useful screening figure, not a complete picture, because it does not account for muscle or body shape, so it is read alongside other information. A straightforward “what category is this BMI” question is common, so the numbers are worth memorising.

The Eatwell Guide and activity

For balanced eating, the tool is the Eatwell Guide, which shows the proportions of the different food groups. Distractor options offer clinical scales like NEWS2 or Waterlow, which have nothing to do with diet. For movement, UK guidance suggests at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, plus strengthening on two days. The realistic message is that any increase from inactive helps.

Do not forget undernutrition

The most important clinical point in this chapter is that nutrition is not only about excess weight. Undernutrition is common and easily missed, especially in older and unwell people. A frail patient losing weight and eating little needs nutritional assessment and support, not weight-loss advice. Getting this the wrong way round, advising a malnourished older person to eat less, is exactly the kind of error the exam builds a distractor around.

Advice that lands

Lifestyle advice works better when it is supportive and realistic. A patient with obesity who has felt judged before is more likely to engage with small, agreed goals than with blame or the tired line that it is “just about eating less.” The right answers here are consistently the non-judgemental, practical ones. Next: sexual health and contraception. Five nutrition scenarios first.

Sources & further reading

Key takeaway from Nutrition, Obesity and Lifestyle Advice Questions

Frequently asked questions

What are the adult BMI categories?

Below 18.5 is underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 is a healthy weight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 or above is obese. BMI is a useful screen but does not account for muscle or body composition, so it is read alongside other information.

How much physical activity should adults aim for?

UK guidance suggests at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, plus muscle-strengthening on two days. Any increase from inactive helps, so realistic goals matter more than hitting the full target at once.

Is nutrition only about obesity?

No. Undernutrition matters just as much, especially in older and unwell people, and it is easy to miss. A frail patient losing weight needs nutritional support, not weight advice, which is why screening tools like MUST are used.

Check your understanding

Quick quiz: Nutrition, Obesity and Lifestyle Advice Questions

5questions. Click an answer to see the explanation. Your score is saved on this device only.

1
An adult has a BMI of 27. Which category is this?
A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is classed as overweight. Below 18.5 is underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 is a healthy weight, and 30 or above is obese. BMI is a screen, so it is interpreted alongside the whole picture, not in isolation.
2
A patient wants to eat more healthily. Which tool best guides balanced eating?
The Eatwell Guide shows the proportions of food groups for a balanced diet. The other tools are for neurological assessment, physical deterioration and pressure ulcer risk, and have nothing to do with dietary advice.
3
A frail 82-year-old has lost weight and eats very little. What is the priority?
Unintentional weight loss and poor intake in an older person point to undernutrition, which carries real risks. The priority is nutritional assessment and support, using a tool like MUST. Weight-loss advice or inaction would be harmful here.
4
How much moderate physical activity does UK guidance suggest for adults each week?
UK guidance suggests at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, plus strengthening on two days. Any movement helps someone who is inactive, so realistic, gradual goals are encouraged.
5
A patient with obesity feels judged by previous clinicians. What is the best approach?
A non-judgemental, supportive approach with small, achievable goals is more effective and more respectful than blame or oversimplification. Avoiding the topic misses a chance to help, while shaming the patient tends to disengage them.