Obesity and critical care

Obesity is a serious public health problem worldwide and is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability. It is a complex condition, with serious social and psychological dimensions, affecting virtually all ages and socioeconomic groups. When faced with critically ill obese patients, the assistance of multiple allied health specialists with thorough understanding of the pathophysiologic effects of obesity on the various organ systems is needed to achieve a satisfactory outcome.In this article we review the literature on obesity-related derangements in cardiopulmonary and metabolic function and the potential complications associated with managing these patients in the intensive care unit. We also discuss the possible opportunities for research, based on an integrative physiological approach of obesity and its potential interactions with sepsis and inflammatory states frequently found in critically ill patients.