BIOD 121 NUTRITION EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE 2025/26
What is the difference between hunger and appetite?
Hunger: the internal drive to find and eat food; related to negative sensations caused by
lack of food
Appetite: external drive that encourages us to find and eat food; related to pleasurable
sensations involved with eating food we enjoy
List two examples of Cognitive external forces that can influence eating habits
Habits, comfort foods, advertising, social factors, nutritional value
Internal drive to find and eat food, often experienced as a negative sensation
Hunger
Vitamins are considered both:
Micronutrients and organic
Nutrients needed in large amounts in the body
Macronutrient
If a fudge brownie has 14 grams of carbs, 2 grams of protein and 9 grams of fat,
how many calories are in the brownie?
14 x 4 = 56
2x4=8
9 x 9 = 81
56 + 8 + 81 = 145
The current recommendation to maintain your body weight is 2000 calories daily.
You should not consume any more than 65% of your calories from carbs. How
many grams of carbs should you eat in a day?
325 grams
2000 x 0.65 = 1300 calories
1300/4 = 325 grams of carb
The state of ___________ nutrition can be achieved by eating a variety of foods
which provide all the essential nutrients
Desirable
Malnutrition can either be a nutritional state of ______ or _____ nutrition
Over, under
An individual's health can be assessed using the ABCDEs of nutritional
assessment. Give a brief description of what A stands for:
Anthropometrics: measurements of body composition such as height and weight
According to MyPlate, what types of food should we increase in our diet?
fruits, vegetable, whole grains, low fat dairy
Specific parts of the GI tract include:
mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and rectum
,Other organs that aid in digestion but are not considered part of the GI tract
liver, gallbladder, and pancreas
Explain the cause and symptoms of heartburn
Heartburn is a burning sensation in the esophagus behind the sternum due to improper
closing of a sphincter that allows stomach acids to enter into the esophagus
Name 2 sphincters discussed in module 2 and briefly describe their functions
Esophageal sphincter: prevents the contents of the stomach from re-entering the
esophagus
Pyloric sphincter: controls the release of chyme into the small intestines from the
stomach
Define the role of enzymes in digestion; Are enzymes an example of mechanical
or chemical digestion?
To breakdown of particles int smaller parts and readies the nutrients for absorption;
Enzymes are an example of chemical digestion
Examples include sucrose and maltose
Disaccharides
Examples include fructose and galactose
Monosaccharides
Added to food for intestinal health
Functional fiber
Dissolves in the GI tract and provides satiety
Soluble fiber
Also called non fermentable fiber, not broken down by bacteria in the GI tract
Insoluble fiber
Which of the following is NOT true concerning blood sugar regulation?
a. Hormones are responsible for control
b. High blood sugar is called hyperglycemia
c. Glucagon helps to lower blood sugar levels
d. Excess glucose is stored as glycogen
c. Glucagon helps to lower blood sugar levels
What is the function of glucagon?
Glucagon is released from the pancreas. This hormone converts liver glycogen to
glucose and improves blood sugar to >70 mg/dL
Name the food groups that vegans will include in their diet and those that they
avoid
Vegans will consume plant foods only
The biological value of a protein is different in ________ vs plant sources
Animal
________ sources are considered high quality or complete proteins
Animal
Plant sources are considered lower quality or ________ protein.
Incomplete
Which of the following is NOT true concerning fats and lipids?
, a. Polyunsaturated fatty acids cause the greatest increase in LDL levels
b. A relationship has been found between a diet high in fat and cardiovascular
disease
c. Some fat is necessary in our diet
d. To lower blood cholesterol levels, choose foods made with unsaturated fats
a. Polyunsaturated fatty acids cause the greatest increase in LDL levels
What are lipoproteins compromised of?
Lipoproteins are lipids surrounded by a shell of protein, phospholipids and cholesterol
Define protein calorie malnutrition
Inadequate intake of protein and calories over a period of time which leads to muscle
wasting and increased risk of infection due to a compromised immune system
Which of the following questions is NOT true of the basal metabolic rate (BMR)?
a. The BMR is the minimal amount of calories used by the body in a fasting state
when resting
b. Males have a higher BMI than females
c. Pregnancy increases the BMR
d. Physical activity is a component of the BMR
d. Physical activity is a component of the BMR
Define the term energy balance
Energy intake being equal to energy expended
Using the guidelines for BMI, someone with a BMI >31 would be considered:
Obese
Comparing the amount of oxygen consumed with the amount of carbon dioxide
expired measures a person's energy expenditure using:
Indirect calorimetry
Calculate the EER for a male who is 20 years old, 5'11" tall, 155 lbs. with an active
lifestyle
Activity Level -- PA Men -- PA Women
1. Sedentary (no exercise)-- 1.00 -- 1.00
2. Low activity (exercise the equivalent of walking 2 miles per day at 3-4 mph --
1.11 -- 1.12
3. Active (exercises the equivalent of walking 7 miles per day -- 1.25 -- 1.27
4. Very active (exercises the equivalent of walking 17 miles per day) -- 1.48 -- 1.45
Males EER = 662 - (9.53 x AGE) + PA((15.91 x WT(in kg) + (539.6 x HT))
WT in kg: WT/2.2lbs
HT in m: HT/39.37in
662 - (9.53 x 20) + 1.25((15.91 x 70.45) + (539.6 x 1.80)) = 3086.7 calories
The distribution of fat in the body is important. Males often have an apple shape,
often referred to as _______ obesity.
Females have a pear shape, often referred to as _______ obesity.
The shape that has the highest health risks associated with it is the _______
shape.
LATEST UPDATE 2025/26
What is the difference between hunger and appetite?
Hunger: the internal drive to find and eat food; related to negative sensations caused by
lack of food
Appetite: external drive that encourages us to find and eat food; related to pleasurable
sensations involved with eating food we enjoy
List two examples of Cognitive external forces that can influence eating habits
Habits, comfort foods, advertising, social factors, nutritional value
Internal drive to find and eat food, often experienced as a negative sensation
Hunger
Vitamins are considered both:
Micronutrients and organic
Nutrients needed in large amounts in the body
Macronutrient
If a fudge brownie has 14 grams of carbs, 2 grams of protein and 9 grams of fat,
how many calories are in the brownie?
14 x 4 = 56
2x4=8
9 x 9 = 81
56 + 8 + 81 = 145
The current recommendation to maintain your body weight is 2000 calories daily.
You should not consume any more than 65% of your calories from carbs. How
many grams of carbs should you eat in a day?
325 grams
2000 x 0.65 = 1300 calories
1300/4 = 325 grams of carb
The state of ___________ nutrition can be achieved by eating a variety of foods
which provide all the essential nutrients
Desirable
Malnutrition can either be a nutritional state of ______ or _____ nutrition
Over, under
An individual's health can be assessed using the ABCDEs of nutritional
assessment. Give a brief description of what A stands for:
Anthropometrics: measurements of body composition such as height and weight
According to MyPlate, what types of food should we increase in our diet?
fruits, vegetable, whole grains, low fat dairy
Specific parts of the GI tract include:
mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and rectum
,Other organs that aid in digestion but are not considered part of the GI tract
liver, gallbladder, and pancreas
Explain the cause and symptoms of heartburn
Heartburn is a burning sensation in the esophagus behind the sternum due to improper
closing of a sphincter that allows stomach acids to enter into the esophagus
Name 2 sphincters discussed in module 2 and briefly describe their functions
Esophageal sphincter: prevents the contents of the stomach from re-entering the
esophagus
Pyloric sphincter: controls the release of chyme into the small intestines from the
stomach
Define the role of enzymes in digestion; Are enzymes an example of mechanical
or chemical digestion?
To breakdown of particles int smaller parts and readies the nutrients for absorption;
Enzymes are an example of chemical digestion
Examples include sucrose and maltose
Disaccharides
Examples include fructose and galactose
Monosaccharides
Added to food for intestinal health
Functional fiber
Dissolves in the GI tract and provides satiety
Soluble fiber
Also called non fermentable fiber, not broken down by bacteria in the GI tract
Insoluble fiber
Which of the following is NOT true concerning blood sugar regulation?
a. Hormones are responsible for control
b. High blood sugar is called hyperglycemia
c. Glucagon helps to lower blood sugar levels
d. Excess glucose is stored as glycogen
c. Glucagon helps to lower blood sugar levels
What is the function of glucagon?
Glucagon is released from the pancreas. This hormone converts liver glycogen to
glucose and improves blood sugar to >70 mg/dL
Name the food groups that vegans will include in their diet and those that they
avoid
Vegans will consume plant foods only
The biological value of a protein is different in ________ vs plant sources
Animal
________ sources are considered high quality or complete proteins
Animal
Plant sources are considered lower quality or ________ protein.
Incomplete
Which of the following is NOT true concerning fats and lipids?
, a. Polyunsaturated fatty acids cause the greatest increase in LDL levels
b. A relationship has been found between a diet high in fat and cardiovascular
disease
c. Some fat is necessary in our diet
d. To lower blood cholesterol levels, choose foods made with unsaturated fats
a. Polyunsaturated fatty acids cause the greatest increase in LDL levels
What are lipoproteins compromised of?
Lipoproteins are lipids surrounded by a shell of protein, phospholipids and cholesterol
Define protein calorie malnutrition
Inadequate intake of protein and calories over a period of time which leads to muscle
wasting and increased risk of infection due to a compromised immune system
Which of the following questions is NOT true of the basal metabolic rate (BMR)?
a. The BMR is the minimal amount of calories used by the body in a fasting state
when resting
b. Males have a higher BMI than females
c. Pregnancy increases the BMR
d. Physical activity is a component of the BMR
d. Physical activity is a component of the BMR
Define the term energy balance
Energy intake being equal to energy expended
Using the guidelines for BMI, someone with a BMI >31 would be considered:
Obese
Comparing the amount of oxygen consumed with the amount of carbon dioxide
expired measures a person's energy expenditure using:
Indirect calorimetry
Calculate the EER for a male who is 20 years old, 5'11" tall, 155 lbs. with an active
lifestyle
Activity Level -- PA Men -- PA Women
1. Sedentary (no exercise)-- 1.00 -- 1.00
2. Low activity (exercise the equivalent of walking 2 miles per day at 3-4 mph --
1.11 -- 1.12
3. Active (exercises the equivalent of walking 7 miles per day -- 1.25 -- 1.27
4. Very active (exercises the equivalent of walking 17 miles per day) -- 1.48 -- 1.45
Males EER = 662 - (9.53 x AGE) + PA((15.91 x WT(in kg) + (539.6 x HT))
WT in kg: WT/2.2lbs
HT in m: HT/39.37in
662 - (9.53 x 20) + 1.25((15.91 x 70.45) + (539.6 x 1.80)) = 3086.7 calories
The distribution of fat in the body is important. Males often have an apple shape,
often referred to as _______ obesity.
Females have a pear shape, often referred to as _______ obesity.
The shape that has the highest health risks associated with it is the _______
shape.
