Nutrition concerns in muscular dystrophy commonly include?

• A. Weight loss only
• B. Regular, balanced appetite
• C. Dysphagia without obesity
• D. Risk of obesity or dysphagia

Answer: (D)

Nutritional status in muscular dystrophy is often affected by both swallowing difficulties and weight changes. The weakness of bulbar muscles can lead to dysphagia, making safe, adequate intake challenging. At the same time, reduced activity, changing body composition, and sometimes corticosteroid use can increase the risk of weight gain and obesity. Because both obesity risk and dysphagia can occur in people with muscular dystrophy, the best answer is that nutrition concerns include the risk of obesity or dysphagia. The other options miss this dual risk: weight loss alone doesn’t capture the obesity risk; regular appetite ignores potential swallowing problems; and dysphagia without obesity doesn’t reflect the common coexistence of both issues in many patients.