Healthy eating, exercise, proper supplementation, avoiding harmful products/substances and managing chronic diseases (obesity, diabetes, anemia, inflammatory conditions, depression, etc.) can help to improve and sustain good nutritional status.

Studies have shown that a high percentage of patients with a (BMI) >30 are malnourished.

Risks

Patients that have been identified as obese and/or malnourished have a significantly higher complication rate, including;

• infection
• hematoma formation
• renal
• cardiac complications

Surgeon Tools/Recommendations

Understanding possible treatment options is useful for collaborative efforts to optimize patient's nutritional status. Certain aspects of a patient's nutritional status can be assessed through routine blood work.

• Malnourished patients should start receiving supplementation of identified deficiencies at least 14 days prior to surgery, particularly Vitamin D and protein supplementation.
• Collaborative efforts are encouraged, including a nutritional screening checklist.