The nurse is caring for a teenage client diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. The client’s mother asks the nurse about eating disorders in general. Which information would the nurse provide?
Clients with bulimia may have erosion of the tooth enamel.
Binging and purging can occur in both anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
Extreme exercising and calorie restriction is common with anorexia nervosa.
Clients with eating disorders may develop the disorders because of issues of power and control.
Clients with anorexia have a distorted body image and think that they are fat even if they are very thin.
Numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5 are correct.
Rationale: Clients with bulimia can develop erosion of the tooth enamel from repeated vomiting due to the acid in the vomitus. Binging and purging can occur with both anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Anorexics tend to eat very low-calorie diets, restrict certain food groups, or exercise compulsively in order to lose weight. Many clients with eating disorders feel that the only thing they can control is their weight, and often feel pressured by family to achieve perfection. Clients with anorexia are obsessed with fear of obesity.
