Help for people who are not eating enough

This tool has been designed to help you identify adults with a Learning Disability who are underweight and at risk of undernutrition.  It is recommended that carers who are carrying out the 'MUST' receive the appropriate training from the Learning Disability Dietetic Service.  Please see the following tools below to help you:

BMI Chart up to 100kg
% weight loss chart
Food and Fluid Record Chart
Measuring Height
Weight monitoring Chart
'MUST' Screening Tool Steps 1 to 3
Community Step 4 'MUST' Management Guidelines

BAPEN Screening Tool
Measuring Height

Weight Monitoring Chart Non-'MUST'

If someone has lost weight or their appetite is poor, making simple dietary changes to meals and snacks may help. The advice given in the following resources may not be suitable for some people with conditions such as swallowing difficulties or diabetes.

You can visit the malnutrition section within our website for self help resources or see below for pictorial leaflets.

Pictorial 'Eating well when appetite is poor'
Pictorial 'How to make fortified milk'

The videos below are designed to provide education for carers on identifying and managing nutrition. 

Malnutrition training videos

If you are concerned the individual you support has:

• had a poor appetite for less than 5 days
• unplanned weight loss
• MUST score 0 or 1

We ask you to implement the self help resources found above. If there is no improvement after 4 weeks then please consider referral to the dietetic service.

If you have concerns the individual you support has:

• a poor appetite lasting more than 5 days
• continued weight loss after following self management advice after 4 weeks 
• MUST score 2 or more

Then please make an immediate referral.

For further information on making a referral click here.