WB: Obesity Interventions in ESKD Failto Address Patients’ Unique Needs

Obesity interventions in ESKD need to address specific challenges these patients experience, such as diet and fatigue, according to findings published in the American journal of Kidney Diseases. Meera Harhay, MD, MSCE, and colleagues held semi-structured interviews with patients with ESKDand obesity and healthcare professionals. Among patients, median age was 55, median BMI was 39.5 kg/m2, median dialysis vintage was 5 years,58% were female, and 46% were White. Healthcare professionals included renal dietitians (50%) and nephrologists (20%); the remainder were transplant professionals. Patients with ESKD experienced unique weight loss challenges, such as conflicting tenets of “kidney-friendly” versus popular diets, fatigue from dialysis that impacted dietary choices, and perceived pressure and unrealistic expectations from healthcare professionals about weight loss for kidney transplantation. Professionals and patients expressed a lack of transparent and honest communication about obesity, as well as uncertainty about responsibilities related to obesity counseling.