What comprises a PES statement?

• A. Possibilities, Effects, Solutions.
• B. Problem, Etiology, Signs/Symptoms.
• C. People, Efforts, Satisfaction.
• D. Probabilities, End Products, Significant Information.

Answer: (B)

In nutrition diagnosis, a PES statement is built with three parts: the problem (the nutrition problem or diagnostic label), the etiology (the cause or contributing factors), and the signs/symptoms (the data that show the problem is present). This structure ties the diagnosis to its root cause and the evidence, guiding interventions and allowing progress to be tracked. For example: “Inadequate energy intake related to poor appetite due to depression, as evidenced by unintentional weight loss of 6 lb in 4 weeks and reported decreased intake.” The other options don’t reflect the standard components or the evidentiary data used to support a nutrition diagnosis.