Obesity: Nutrition Support Practice and Application to Critical Care

Much controversy exists regarding the nutritional care of obese, hospitalized patients. There is no real agreement among health care professionals in the nutritional support of obese patients. A survey was designed to determine the methods used to provide for the nutritional needs of obese, hospitalized patients. The survey included questions on definition of obesity, equations used to calculate energy and protein needs, and body weight used for calculations. The information received from this survey describes the variability of nutritional care for obese, hospitalized patients. In addition, a review of the current literature is provided regarding the metabolic response of the obese.