Looking good or good nutrition? Rapid weight loss through enteral feedings: ethical and clinical considerations.

Ethical Case Marcia Sue DeWolf Bosek, DNSc, RN; Stuart L. Whitney, EdD, RN, CNS At the monthly interdisciplinary team conference, nurse practitioner Amy Jones discussed with the team: I have been approached by a woman who read the article in The New York Times about brides using 500 kcal/d tube feedings as a way to lose weight before their wedding. She asked whether our clinic provided this service and was asking questions about whether tube feedings would be a viable weight reduction option for her since her wedding is a just over 6 weeks away, and she is still unable to fit into her grandmother’s wedding dress. She described herself as being 5 ft 4 in and 168 lb. According to the weight chart, her ideal weight would be 108 to 132 lb, and a healthy weight would be up to 145 lb. I was really caught off guard. I had no clue that other clinics were engaging in this practice. I told her I would get back to her after I learned more about this practice. I would like to propose that we seek some consultation to help us better understand the ethical and clinical aspects of this clinical issue before we decide what our clinic’s policy should be. REFERENCES 1. LeeL.Bridal hungergames: losing weight in time for the wedding. TheNewYork Times.April 13, 2012. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/ 04/15/fashion/weddings/LosingWeight-in-Time-for-the-Wedding .html?pagewanted=all&_r=0. Accessed February 6, 2013. 2. Rush University Medical Center. Health information: what is a healthy weight? http://www.rush .edu/rumc/page-1108048103230.html. Accessed February 6, 2013.