The FNP is seeing a patient today for a well-woman exam. The…
The FNP is seeing a patient today for a well-woman exam. The patient’s height is 5’4”, weight is 176 pounds, and blood pressure is 162/90 mmHg. The FNP determines the patient gained 35 pounds since her last visit and now has a calculated BMI of 30.2% (high). During the assessment, the patient tells the nurse practitioner, “I can’t stop eating. It makes me feel better. I have an intense craving for sweets and sugary carbs all day long.” The FNP is concerned because the patient has more visceral and central obesity, which has a greater risk for chronic inflammation and . Obesity greatly increases the patient’s risk for many debilitating diseases: cardiovascular disease, diabetes and , so the FNP wants to work with the patient to treat this chronic disease. The FNP discusses how obesity is a chronic disease caused by . The FNP and patient decide that referral and evaluation for behavioral therapy and a dietician are the appropriate next steps for treatment of her obesity.