A Primary Care Provider’s Guide to Diet and Nutrition After Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to significant physiological changes that affect various organ systems, disrupting energy balance due to motor paralysis, spasticity, and other factors. This often results in reduced energy expenditure and altered appetite control. Individuals with SCI are prone to neurogenic obesity because of a positive energy balance, even when adhering to standard nutritional guidelines. Assessment of body composition and total daily energy expenditure is crucial for effective dietary interventions. A tailored diet for SCI patients should emphasize low-calorie, high-nutrient-density foods and may require micronutrient supplementation. It is important to address the obesity crisis in this vulnerable population with more rigorous dietary plans.

• 1
  Physiological disruption after SCI leads to altered energy balance, diminished hypothalamic control of appetite and satiety, and a tendency toward neurogenic obesity.
• 2
  Standard nutritional guidelines may not be sufficient for individuals with SCI, as they often continue in a positive energy balance despite following these guidelines.
• 3
  Accurate assessment of body composition and total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) is necessary to address the obesity crisis in the SCI population.