Final answer:
Patients undergoing severe physiological stress typically require an increased nutritional intake of about 35 kcal/kg/day to meet their heightened energy demands.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patients experiencing severe physiological stress increase their nutritional requirements to c. 35 kcal/kg/day. This is because stress can lead to an increased metabolic rate, necessitating a higher caloric intake to meet the body's energy demands. Patients under severe stress, such as those with burns, trauma, or sepsis, can have dramatically increased energy expenditures.
A smaller or less active person may require only 1,300 kcal per day, while a more active individual might demand upwards of 3,000 kcal per day. Energy needs vary depending on a variety of factors, including physical activity level, metabolic demands, and physiological changes such as pregnancy or growth. For example, pregnant women might need an additional 300 Kcal/day during the last stages of pregnancy to support the metabolic needs of the fetus and the extra work of the heart and respiration due to the increase in maternal weight.