Which of the following is most likely to be observed first in a non-diabetic older adult who is overfed?

• A. hepatobiliary effects
• B. weight gain
• C. Hyperglycemia
• D. accumulation of carbon dioxide

Answer: (C)

When someone is overfed, the body’s immediate response to excess energy, especially from carbohydrates, is an increase in circulating glucose. In a non-diabetic older adult, this hyperglycemia appears before weight gain or liver-related changes because glucose is the first nutrient to accumulate beyond what tissues can promptly uptake and utilize. Insulin attempts to handle the surge, but the surplus shows up as elevated blood sugar before stores of fat are expanded or liver fat accumulates. Weight gain and hepatobiliary effects require sustained overfeeding over time, and accumulation of carbon dioxide is not a typical early sign of overfeeding.