Nutrition for obese patients

Abstract

This invention provides a composition and method for providing nutritional support to obese patients. The composition has an energy density between 0.4 and 0.9 kcal / ml and comprises a protein source which comprises at least 30% by weight whey protein and provides at least 30% of the total calories of the composition. The composition may include a carbohydrate source and a lipid source. Preferably, at least 50% by weight of the protein source is whey protein. The invention further extends to use of the composition in the prevention or treatment of malnutrition in obese patients.

Description

[0001]This invention relates generally to compositions and methods for the treatment and nutritional support of patients. More specifically, this invention relates to the nutritional support of obese patients prior to, during and after hospitalisation for surgery, treatment of diseases or other disorders as well as during periods of convalescence.[0002]The prevalence of obesity in adults, children and adolescents has increased rapidly over the past 30 years in the United States and globally and continues to rise. Obesity is classically defined based on the percentage of body fat or, more recently, the body mass index or BMI. The BMI is defined as the ratio of weight in Kg divided by the height in metres, squared. As obesity becomes more prevalent in all age groups, it is inevitable that the number of patients in hospitals who are also obese will increase.[0003]Many obese patients have pre-existing chronic diseases related to their obesity such as impaired glycaemic control, diabetes...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In a fifth aspect, this invention provides a method of preventing or treating malnutrition in an obese patient in need thereof by administering a therapeutic amount of a nutritional composition comprising a protein source wherein the composition has an energy density between 0.4 and 0.9 kcal / ml and the protein source comprises at least 30% by weight of whey protein and provides at least 30% of the total calories of the composition.

Problems solved by technology

Many obese patients have pre-existing chronic diseases related to their obesity such as impaired glycaemic control, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, respiratory abnormalities, hyperlipidaemia, degenerative joint disease, and hepatobiliary disease that are likely to complicate even routine hospital care.

In addition, obese patients are more likely than their non-obese counterparts to develop postoperative complications such as impaired wound-healing, nosocomial infections, respiratory complications, and delayed cardiac recuperation.

In adult intensive care patients, obesity (BMI greater than 30) has even been reported to be significantly associated with increased risk of mortality.

In the more generalised group of obese patients who, although ill, are not critically ill, there is a tendency for the nutrition offered post operatively in particular to be less than ideal.

However, this overlooks the possibility that, when stressed for example by illness or surgery, obese patients may suffer from protein and micronutrient depletion just as non-obese patients do.