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Under-Recognizing Malnutrition in Hospitalized Obese Populations: The Real Paradox

  • Diabetes and Obesity (CB Chan, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Obesity and malnutrition are frequently encountered in the hospitalized population. Although malnutrition associated with low or normal body mass index (BMI) is easily identified, malnutrition in obese patients goes frequently unrecognized as their fat mass masks underlying muscle mass deterioration. The purpose of this review is to explore if malnutrition has been studied in the obese hospitalized population and if that may be one of the reasons for the variable results in the obesity outcome data.

Recent Findings

Various studies have shown a conflicting association between obesity and outcomes in hospitalized patient population. Most prior studies used BMI alone as an indicator of obesity and although some recent studies have included body fat percentage, muscle mass, and functional status, they still showed variable outcomes. Unfortunately, there are not many studies that looked into nutrition status specifically in obese patients to study the outcomes.

Summary

Studies evaluating clinical outcomes in obese patients showed a wide range of outcomes; some showed a protective effect while others were neutral. We explored recent data about obesity, malnutrition, and outcomes, where researchers more precisely defined malnutrition and obesity to determine health outcomes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Kavita Sharma

  2. Department of Nutrition, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Kris M. Mogensen

  3. Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Carrie Hall 103, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Malcolm K. Robinson

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  1. Kavita Sharma
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  2. Kris M. Mogensen
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  3. Malcolm K. Robinson
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Correspondence to Malcolm K. Robinson.

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Conflict of Interest

Kavita Sharma declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Kris M. Mogensen has received consulting fees for serving on the Pfizer Malnutrition Advisory Board.

Malcolm K. Robinson declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Sharma, K., Mogensen, K.M. & Robinson, M.K. Under-Recognizing Malnutrition in Hospitalized Obese Populations: The Real Paradox. Curr Nutr Rep 8, 317–322 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-019-00288-y

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