● The general survey = a study of the whole person, covering the general health state and
any obvious physical characteristics
○ Perform this after entering the patient’s room
● Main 4 areas:
○ Physical appearance
○ Body structure
○ Mobility
○ Behavior: mood (what they feel) and affect (what we see)
● Gait: manner of walking
● Remove shoes and heavy outer clothing before standing on scales, record in kilograms
and pounds
○ Kg = pounds/2.2
● BMI overestimates body fat in people who are very muscular
● BMI underestimates body fat in older adults who have lost muscle mass
● BMI classification for adults:
○ Underweight: < 18.5 kg
○ Normal weight: 18.5 - 24.9 kg
○ Overweight: 25 - 29.9 kg
○ Obesity (class 1): 30 - 34.9 kg
○ Obesity (class 2): 35 - 39.9 kg
○ Extreme obesity (class 3): > 40
● BMI calculation:
○ (weight (in pounds) / height (in inches)^2) x 703
○ Weight (in kilograms) / height (in meters)^2
● If most weight is carried around the waist instead of hips, person is at higher risk for
heart disease and type 2 diabetes
○ A waist circumference > 35 in in women increases the risk for type 2 diabetes
○ A waist circumference > 40 in in men increases the risk of type 2 diabetes
○ As well as dyslipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease in people with
a BMI between 25 and 35 (overweight and obesity class 1)
● Cachetic: very thin
● Kyphosis: the humpback appearance common in the very old and with osteoporosis
● Cholecystectomy: removal of gallbladder
● Holistic: mind, body, spirit
● Health promotion and disease prevention:
○ Primary: preventing
○ Secondary: screen
○ Tertiary: treat
any obvious physical characteristics
○ Perform this after entering the patient’s room
● Main 4 areas:
○ Physical appearance
○ Body structure
○ Mobility
○ Behavior: mood (what they feel) and affect (what we see)
● Gait: manner of walking
● Remove shoes and heavy outer clothing before standing on scales, record in kilograms
and pounds
○ Kg = pounds/2.2
● BMI overestimates body fat in people who are very muscular
● BMI underestimates body fat in older adults who have lost muscle mass
● BMI classification for adults:
○ Underweight: < 18.5 kg
○ Normal weight: 18.5 - 24.9 kg
○ Overweight: 25 - 29.9 kg
○ Obesity (class 1): 30 - 34.9 kg
○ Obesity (class 2): 35 - 39.9 kg
○ Extreme obesity (class 3): > 40
● BMI calculation:
○ (weight (in pounds) / height (in inches)^2) x 703
○ Weight (in kilograms) / height (in meters)^2
● If most weight is carried around the waist instead of hips, person is at higher risk for
heart disease and type 2 diabetes
○ A waist circumference > 35 in in women increases the risk for type 2 diabetes
○ A waist circumference > 40 in in men increases the risk of type 2 diabetes
○ As well as dyslipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease in people with
a BMI between 25 and 35 (overweight and obesity class 1)
● Cachetic: very thin
● Kyphosis: the humpback appearance common in the very old and with osteoporosis
● Cholecystectomy: removal of gallbladder
● Holistic: mind, body, spirit
● Health promotion and disease prevention:
○ Primary: preventing
○ Secondary: screen
○ Tertiary: treat
