Medical Care for Obese Patients: Advice for Health Care Professionals

-

 NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF OBESITY




More than 60 percent of adults in the United States are overweight or obese, and obese persons are more likely to be ill than those who are not. Obesity presents challenges to physicians and patients and also has a negative impact on health status. Some patients who are obese may delay medical care because of concerns about disparagement by physicians and health care staff, or fear of being weighed. Simple accommodations, such as providing large-sized examination gowns and armless chairs, as well as weighing patients in a private area, may make the medical setting more accessible and more comfortable for obese patients. Extremely obese patients often have special health needs, such as lower extremity edema or respiratory insufficiency that require targeted evaluation and treatment. Although physical examination may be more difficult in obese patients, their disproportionate risk for some illnesses that are amenable to early detection increases the priority for preventive evaluations. Physicians can encourage improvements in healthy behaviors, regardless of the patient’s desire for, or success with, weight loss treatment. (Am Fam Physician 2002;65:81-8. Copyright© 2002 American Academy of Family Physicians.)


T medical care for patients who are obese. he percentage of adults in the United States considered to be overweight or obese has increased to more than 60 percent.1 Clinical guidelines from the National Institutes of Health2 define overweight as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 kg per m2 , while obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 kg per m2 or more (Table 1). 2 Of special concern is the dramatic increase from approximately 15 to 27 percent in the category of obesity during the past two decades.1 BMI correlates significantly with total body fat content.2 It is calculated by dividing weight (in kg) by height (in m2 ) or, alternatively, by dividing weight (in lb) by height (in inches2 ) and multiplying by 703. Figure 12 provides a chart to calculate BMI, and a BMI calculator is available online at: http://www. nhlbisupport.com/bmi/. Obesity disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minority populations, especially women. For example, 10.3 percent of African

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why do you need to develop a healthy-eating plan?

-
If you have diabetes or prediabetes, your health care provider will likely recommend that you see a dietitian to help you develop a healthy-eating plan. The plan helps you control your blood sugar, also called blood glucose, manage your weight and control heart disease risk factors. These factors include high blood pressure and high blood fats. When you eat extra calories and carbohydrates, your blood sugar levels rise. If blood sugar isn't controlled, it can lead to serious problems. These problems include a high blood sugar level, called hyperglycemia. If this high level lasts for a long time, it may lead to long-term complications, such as nerve, kidney and heart damage. You can help keep your blood sugar level in a safe range. Make healthy food choices and track your eating habits. For most people with type 2 diabetes, weight loss also can make it easier to control blood sugar. Weight loss offers a host of other health benefits. If you need to lose weight, a healthy-eating plan...
Read more

What you need to know about Malnutrition

-
Image
Malnutrition is when a person’s diet does not provide enough nutrients or the right balance for optimal health. Symptoms often involve weight loss, reduced appetite, tiredness, and irritability. Causes of malnutrition include: unsuitable dietary choices having a low income difficulty obtaining food various physical and mental health conditions Undernutrition is one type of malnutritionTrusted Source. It occurs when the body does not get enough food and enough necessary nutrients. It can lead to: delayed growth low weight wasting If a person does not get the right balance of nutrients, they can also have malnutrition. It is possible to have obesity with malnutrition. When a person has too little food, a limited diet, or a condition that stops their body from obtaining the right balance of nutrients, it can severely impact their health. In some cases, this can become life threatening. This article looks at malnutrition in detail, including the causes, symptoms, and treatments. People may...
Read more