Invited Review Specialized Nutrition Support in the Hospitalized Obese Patient

ABSTRACT: The rising prevalence of obesity in the United States has resulted in concerns regarding the implementation of safe and effective specialized nutrition support in hospitalized obese patients. This review dis-cusses complications associated with the provision of spe-cialized nutrition support for obese patients and empha-sizes the scientific basis for and against the provision of hypocaloric, high-protein parenteral and enteral nutrition support. Because there is a paucity of data concerning enteral nutrition support, some practical aspects of imple-menting hypocaloric high-protein enteral nutrition are also given. The prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States has risen from 13.4 % in 1960 to 30.9% in 1999 to 2000.1 These data would indicate a