Meeting the nutritional needs of the bariatric patient in acute care

Meeting the nutritional needs of the bariatic (severely obese) patient in acute and critical care can be a challenge. Assessment of metabolic needs and energy expenditure is imperative to calculate nutritional needs. Achieving adequate nutrition is a result of multidisciplinary team collaboration, with the nurse providing important data for the dietitian to calculate needs. This article reviews aspects of nutritional support of the bariatic patient including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.