Eating Disorders

Overview

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions characterized by unhealthy relationships with food and body image. Anorexia and bulimia can lead to life-threatening physical complications, particularly cardiac and electrolyte issues. Nursing care focuses on stabilizing physical health, establishing safe eating patterns, and addressing the underlying psychological distress.

Key nursing concepts

• Anorexia nervosa involves a distorted body image and self-starvation.
• Bulimia nervosa involves cycles of binging and purging.
• Binge eating disorder involves excessive intake without compensatory purging.
• Cardiac arrhythmias due to electrolyte shifts are a major cause of death.
• Treatment requires a multidisciplinary team including a dietitian.
• The nurse must remain neutral and non-judgmental during meal supervision.

Important nursing considerations

• Implement a one-to-one observation during meal times and for 1 hour after.
• Monitor weight daily in the morning in a hospital gown only.
• Assess for medical complications like electrolyte imbalances or bradycardia.
• Establish a contract for nutritional intake and weight gain goals.
• Limit physical activity to prevent excessive calorie burning.
• Observe for signs of refeeding syndrome when restarting nutritional intake.

Patient teaching

• Teach the patient about the long-term effects of malnutrition on the heart.
• Help the patient identify non-food-related ways to cope with emotions.
• Instruct the family on avoiding comments about the patient's weight or appearance.

Related practice questions

Real questions from the NursGuru bank, each with the answer and rationale.

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