Dietitian Course: Nutrition Life Stage 4: Early Adulthood

NUTRITION LIFE STAGE 4: EARLY ADULTHOOD

Early adulthood, a period marked by significant changes in nutritional requirements and lifestyle. Individuals in this age group experience fluctuations in their calorie, protein, carbohydrate, and micronutrient needs. These changes are influenced by varying activity levels, medical conditions, pregnancy, and the transition toward independence. Registered Dietitians (RDs) play a crucial role in evaluating and supporting the nutritional well-being of young adults. The nutrition-focused physical exam is utilized to detect potential nutrient deficiencies. Measurements of height and weight are taken and used to calculate Body Mass Indexes (BMIs), which, combined with physical exam findings, allow physicians and dietitians to monitor weight changes and identify nutrient deficiencies. As young adults become the primary influence on their own food choices and eating environments, they face unique challenges and responsibilities.

Upon successful completion of this one-hour course, the participant should be able to:

Understand how micro and macronutrient needs are individualized based on medical conditions, weight and nutrient deficiencies.

Teach patients to read their labs and how their diets play a role.

Educate patients on finding reliable nutrition information on the internet, and teach them fact vs myth with products on the internet.

Use nutrition focused physical exam to detect nutrient deficiencies.

Live Webinar Date: Dec 02, 2025 (04:00 PM - 05:00 PM Eastern Time) (US and Canada)

Performance Indicators/Learning Objectives: 2.1.4, 5.1.2, 5.2.2, 7.3.1, 9.1.4, 9.2.4

Target Audience: RDs, DTRs, Health Professionals

Number of Credits: 1.0

Level(s): 1

Total Cost: 1 Site Credit

About the Presenter: Barbara Truitt, MS, RDN, LDN

Barbara currently teaches online nutrition courses for Rasmussen University and is a Renal Dietitian for two DaVita Clinics. Barbara started with DaVita in Feb 2023. She is responsible for all patient education as well as review of monthly labs and daily fluid reports. Before this, Barbara was the Clinical Coordinator for Keiser University where she placed students in their supervised practice sites. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. She is a contributor to two publications, the first one Food Folklore: Tales and Truths About What We Eat, and You Can’t just Eat a Cheeseburger which is a true story about a young woman who struggled with an eating disorder. Before academia, Barbara worked in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, dual diagnosis centers and had her own private practice.