Eating disorders

Instructions

• Read and study all the required resources of the module.
• Then, watch the video found in the following resource:

• Meridian Educational. (Producer). (2011). Nutrition and eating disorders
• Read the case study below.

The professor referred Karol, a 16-year-old girl, to the school’s nurse on suspicion that she suffered from an eating disorder. The nurse determined that she was younger than her age stated and that her behavior was somewhat immature. Karol arrived with her family, who were very protective, to the interview with the nurse and answered most of the questions directed at her. Karol’s mother exhibited a high degree of anxiety and was very concerned about appearance, feeding and ideal weight.

During the interview, Karol reported that she refused to eat certain foods because eating them caused her anxiety. She also admitted to feeling fat even though her 95-pound weight matched her height of 5’4.” Over the past four months, Karol had lost 34 pounds. He also reported on the perception that she was not attractive or pleasant if she was not thin. She wanted to be thin like the models she admired in the most popular teen magazines. The nurse, when evaluating Karol, identified hair loss, dry and brittle hair, weak nails and extremely dry skin. His blood pressure was 75/50 and his pulse was 52 beats per minute. He complained of frequent dizziness, palpitations and bone pain. Lately, she had felt irritable and depressed. Her last period was three months ago. Karol’s sister was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.

• Answer the following questions:
  • What should your nurse suspect about the cause of Karol’s eating disorder?
  • Based on the nursing professional’s assessment, what is the most appropriate treatment for Karol?
  • What physical finding must be related to the degree of stress Karol is experiencing?
  • What nursing intervention would help Karol effectively verbalize logical and realistic thinking regarding the achievement of an ideal body?
  • Identifies the pharmacotherapy used for the management of the eating disorder.