Nutritional support of the obese and critically ill obese patient.

With the dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity worldwide and in the United States, it is virtually certain that clinicians will be caring for bariatric and obese nonbariatric patients in increasing numbers. This patient population presents several difficulties from the medical and surgical management perspectives. In particular, nutrition of the bariatric patient and critically ill obese patient is challenging. A clear understanding of the nutritional assessment and unique management strategies available for the bariatric and the critically ill obese patient is essential to provide them with the safest and most effective care.