Evaluation of Nutritional Status Indications for nutritional evaluation include the following: Undesirable body weight or body composition Suspicion of specific deficiencies or toxicities of essential nutrients In infants and children, insufficient growth or development Nutritional status should be evaluated routinely as part of the clinical examination for Infants and children Older people People taking several drugs People with psychiatric disorders People with systemic disorders that last longer than several days Evaluating general nutritional status includes history, physical examination, and sometimes tests.