Problem 24 - Chemistry for Allied Health

Question

A patient originally weighs 182 pounds and loses \(15.0 \%\) of their body weight. What is their final weight?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The patient's final weight is 154.7 pounds.

Step 1: Calculate Weight Loss

First, determine how much weight the patient loses. Multiply the original body weight by the percentage of weight lost. The formula to calculate the weight loss is \( 182 \times 0.15 \).

Step 2: Compute Weight Loss

Now, calculate the actual weight loss using the formula: \( 182 \times 0.15 = 27.3 \) pounds. This is the weight the patient lost.

Step 3: Calculate Final Weight

To find the patient's final weight, subtract the weight lost from the original weight: \( 182 - 27.3 = 154.7 \) pounds.

Key Concepts

Percentage Calculation

Understanding percentage calculation is essential, especially when you're trying to determine weight changes. Calculating weight loss by percentage involves a few steps. When determining how much weight someone has lost, you multiply their original body weight by the percentage of weight lost. For example, if a person loses 15% of their body weight, and they originally weighed 182 pounds, you determine the weight loss by performing the calculation:
\( 182 \times 0.15 = 27.3 \text{ pounds} \).The formula can be broken down into simple steps:

• Convert the percentage (15%) into a decimal by dividing by 100. This gives you \( 0.15 \).
• Multiply this decimal by the original weight.
• The resulting product is the amount of weight lost.

Calculating weight changes in this manner helps in setting realistic weight loss goals and ensures you track progress accurately.

Pound to Kilogram Conversion

When discussing weight, it's common to convert between pounds and kilograms, especially when following global health guidelines. This conversion helps in understanding weight universally. To convert pounds to kilograms, you use the conversion factor of 1 pound being equivalent to approximately 0.453592 kilograms.

For example, take the final weight of the patient, which is 154.7 pounds. You would convert this to kilograms by: \( 154.7 \times 0.453592 \approx 70.2 \text{ kilograms} \).If you want to approach this conversion:

• Multiply the number of pounds by \( 0.453592 \) to find the equivalent in kilograms.
• Round the result to a suitable number of decimal places for practicality.

Conversions like these help in maintaining consistency with measurement systems and understanding health metrics globally.

Body Weight Measurement

Body weight measurement is a vital part of monitoring health. It involves consistent tracking of one's body weight to ascertain gains or losses over time. Accurate measurement is crucial, particularly when formulating health plans or assessing the effectiveness of diets.

For reliability:

• Always use the same scale to reduce variance in measurement.
• Weigh yourself at the same time of day, ideally in the morning before eating, for consistency.
• Remove heavy clothing and shoes to avoid additional weight influence.

Tracking body weight diligently can assist in recognizing patterns and understanding body's response to lifestyle adjustments. This method is beneficial in gauging health indicators and achieving long-term health goals.