Which of the following is a primary prevention action for older adults?

Which of the following is a primary prevention action for older adults?

• A. Yearly depression screening
• B. Colonoscopy every 10 years
• C. Yearly fecal occult blood test
• D. Yearly height and weight check

Answer: (D)

Regular monitoring of height and weight is a primary prevention action because it helps maintain and protect health before disease develops. By tracking these measures, clinicians can detect unrecognized malnutrition, dehydration, or weight gain that signals excess risk for obesity-related problems, frailty, or underlying illness. Early identification allows timely interventions such as nutritional support, hydration, and lifestyle adjustments to prevent complications and maintain functional status. In contrast, the other options are screenings aimed at detecting disease after risk is already present: depression screening identifies mood issues that may require management; colonoscopy and fecal occult blood testing screen for colorectal disease to catch problems early but after risk factors or symptoms have been considered.

Regular monitoring of height and weight is a primary prevention action because it helps maintain and protect health before disease develops. By tracking these measures, clinicians can detect unrecognized malnutrition, dehydration, or weight gain that signals excess risk for obesity-related problems, frailty, or underlying illness. Early identification allows timely interventions such as nutritional support, hydration, and lifestyle adjustments to prevent complications and maintain functional status.

In contrast, the other options are screenings aimed at detecting disease after risk is already present: depression screening identifies mood issues that may require management; colonoscopy and fecal occult blood testing screen for colorectal disease to catch problems early but after risk factors or symptoms have been considered.