Adiposity: A formidable challenge in acute and critical care

Abstract

The 4 articles in this symposium are written by certified bariatric advanced practice and critical care nurses. In the first article, Rachel Smigelski-Theiss and colleagues review psychosocial and physiological outcomes (eg, depression) of bariatric patients that result from obesity, childhood experiences, and structural designs of the physical environment. The authors examine evidence of weight bias and stigmatization in the health care setting of this patient population. The second article by Aura Petcu and the third article by Susan Gallagher and Cheryl Holsworth examine the overall care challenges experienced by clinicians and patients during bariatric surgical procedures such as gastric sleeve gastrectomy. These 2 articles discuss the more complex ICU nursing care required in the management of bariatric patients in acute and critical care including key monitoring of potential complications. In the final article of the symposium, Heather Roff and Colette Jappy examine adiposity and how the neuroendocrine hormones play a role in regulating obesity and energy balance. We hope this symposium stimulates dialogue and spurs future research to help clinicians better understand and improve the health care systems and processes to better care for the bariatric patient population. We hope you enjoy reading the articles and find the clinical applications relevant to your practice setting.