Adiposity: A Formidable Challenge in Acute and Critical Care

摘要

As a nurse and a critical care practitioner, I find that the term obesity is often laced with negative connotations. In our society, a person who is obese often is regarded as being unhealthy, and clinicians who label patients as obese may be contributing to this negative portrayal. Most health care providers strive to provide their patients with equitable treatment; however, societal constructs and workplace pressures may inadvertently perpetuate stigmatiza-tion and biases by clinicians. These biases and misconceptions present challenges to how patients with obesity are diagnosed and managed in the primary and acute care setting, leading to poor patient outcomes. As many as 70% of adult patients with obesity go undiagnosed. This month's symposium highlights and explores the complexity and multitude of clinical and psychosocial challenges and considerations for bariatric patients. The overall aim of the articles in the symposium is to increase nursing knowledge about adiposity and care of bariatric patients.