When I was in medical school we had classes to teach us about diseases and risk factors. I remember sitting in class and learning that people who were underweight had higher incidences of poor outcomes than those who were overweight.
It was a little disconcerting to know that people who can’t maintain their weight during illness or stress have worse outcomes. I happen to be one of those people.
As I started my practice and worked with a non-profit that focused on alternative treatments for cancer patients, I was again reminded of this fact.
I learned that those patients that were not able to maintain their weight or continued to lose weight during treatment had higher chances of death. At the time this was anecdotal from my practice and there were a few studies that confirmed my observations.
This week the University of Virginia published a study in which approximately 190,000 patients participated in many different surgeries at 183 hospitals that looked at BMI and deaths 30 days after surgeries.
The BMI for underweight people is considered 18.5 or below. People between 18.5 to 24.9 are considered normal weight while people from 25.0 to 29.9 are considered overweight. People with BMIs above 30.0 are considered obese.
In the study, the patients' BMI was divided into five categories. The lowest category of BMI included people who were normal weight and underweight. This category included anyone who had a BMI of less than 23.1. The researchers found that people who had a BMI of less than 23.1 had a 40 percent increase in risk of death 30 days after surgeries.
Why am I sharing what seems like depressing news for people who are normal weight and underweight facing a serious illness? I share this to give suggestions on how to take care of yourself if you find yourself having to prepare for surgery or if you are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
From my experience, when people manage their illnesses or surgeries they deal with mental and emotional issues as well as physical issues. Whenever people come out of surgery the digestive tract usually shuts down or becomes sluggish for a few days and this is monitored by your physician.
Once at home, it becomes important to eat because the healing process requires energy and burns calories. If you are not eating well or putting calories in the body then the body will begin to break down the muscles.
This causes people to lose weight. So eating something -- anything at all -- a few times per day supports the healing process. As a friend or caregiver, helping a patient manage the eating process can make a tremendous difference in their health. Just some food for thought!
Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae
Dr. Dae's website: www.healthydaes.com
Dr. Dae's book: Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living can be purchased @ www.healthydaes.com
Dr. Dae's Bio:
“Dr. Dae" (pronounced Dr. Day) Daemon Jones is a Naturopathic Physician who treats the whole person using safe and effective combinations of traditional and natural methods to produce optimal health and well-being in the lives of her patients.
Sources:
"Obesity - MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2011. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/obesity/DS00314
Steenhuysen, Julie. " Underweight people at higher post-surgery risk: study| Reuters." Business & Financial News, Breaking US & International News | Reuters.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2011. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/21/us-surgery-bmi-idUSTRE7AK28020111121
Reviewed November 23, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Malu Banuelos