Why do dietitians recommend extra calories and protein for overweight and even obese patients?

The underlying issue here is body composition. Overweight and obese patients can be just as protein depleted as underweight patients. The excess weight these patients are carrying is metabolically inactive tissue called adipose tissue. Although this type of patient may appear well fed on the outside, that is not always indicative of what is happening on the inside, particularly in patients with a wound to heal. It is best to look at the entire nutritional history and include biochemical data rather than looking only at the scale weight.

Nancy Collins, PhD, RD, LD/N, FAPWCA