Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Practice Exam

Based on a patient's dinner choices, which condition is at greatest risk due to his food choices?

1. Hyperlipidemia

2. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

3. Obesity

4. Hypertension

The correct answer is: Hypertension

The correct choice indicates that hypertension is at the greatest risk due to the patient's dinner selections. This is likely because certain food choices can contribute significantly to the development or exacerbation of high blood pressure. Meals that are high in sodium, saturated fats, or processed foods can lead to increased blood pressure levels. For instance, a diet rich in sodium can cause the body to retain fluid, leading to increased pressure on blood vessel walls, ultimately raising blood pressure. Moreover, certain foods may also be associated with weight gain and other cardiovascular risks, which in turn may compound the risk for hypertension. Both obesity and hypertension have overlapping risk factors, but if the dinner choices specifically indicate a high likelihood of sodium intake or unhealthy fats, they provide a clearer link to elevated blood pressure compared to conditions like hyperlipidemia or type 2 diabetes, which may require broader dietary issues to be highlighted. While the other options also have associations with dietary choices, the direct relationship of certain foods leading to an increase in blood pressure makes hypertension the condition at the greatest risk in this scenario.