Mental Health Nursing I

NURS 1300

Unit VII
Eating Disorders
 Objective 1
Define anorexia, bulimia, and morbid
obesity
Anorexia = self-starvation with a disruption
in metabolism due to inadequate calorie
intake
Bulimia = food-gorging binges followed by
the purging of food, usually through self-
induced vomiting or laxative abuse
Morbid obesity = chronic disease defined by
having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of more
than 40
 Objective 2
Identify populations at risk for eating
disorders
Anorexia –
 individuals experiencing major life
changes
 adolescent girls and young adult
women
 athletes, actors, dancers, models, or
anyone whose thinness is a professional
requirement
 Objective 2 (cont’d)
Bulimia –
 90% of people suffering from bulimia are
women
 other risk factors include exposure to
American ideals of beauty

Morbid obesity –
 all populations at risk

 61% of adults in the U.S. are overweight

 more and more children are falling victim

to obesity
 Objective 3
Identify possible causes of eating
disorders
 Anorexia
 Low self-esteem
 Social isolation
 Perfectionism
 Tends to run in families
 Stressful events
 Uncomfortable emotions
 control is achieved over weight and food
 satisfaction in this area becomes
important if the rest of one’s life is
chaotic and emotionally painful
 Bulimia

 Dieting
 Stress
 Uncomfortable emotions
 purging and other actions to prevent
weight gain allows one to feel more in
control of his or her life
 control over weight eases stress and
anxiety
 Morbid obesity
 Strong genetic component
 Excessive calorie intake
 Thyroid disorders
 Lack of physical activity
 Current trends and attitudes in the
U.S.
 food as social outlet
 high-fat/high-calorie “comfort” foods

 “clean-your-plate” mentality
 Objective 4
Identify symptoms of three eating
disorders
 Anorexia
 Thinking one looks fat even if bone-
thin
 Brittle hair and nails
 Skin dry and yellow
 Depression
 Hypothermia
 Lanugo
 Strange eating habits
 cutting food into tiny pieces
 preparing elaborate meals one doesn’t eat
 Bulimia
 Individual may be thin, overweight, or
average
 Use of diet pills
 Going to the bathroom shortly after
eating
 Exercising even when hurt, sick, or
tired
 Signs of vomiting
 Distorted body image
 Moody or sad
 Morbid obesity

 Type II diabetes
 Hypertension
 Heart disease
 Gall bladder disease
 Stroke
 Depression
 Low self-esteem
 Objective 5
List nursing care and medical
treatments for clients with eating
disorders
 Anorexia

 Interventions aimed at restoring weight

to reverse medical complications
 Hospitalization to stabilize dangerously
low weight
 Individual, family, and group therapy
 Cognitive-behavioral therapy
 Psychotherapy to deal with underlying
emotional issues
 Bulimia

 Learning healthy eating patterns

 Coping with thoughts and feelings
 Individual, group, and family therapy
 Medications
 antidepressants
 anxiolytics
 Morbid obesity

 Sensitivity training due to

discrimination by health care workers
 Weight management
 Nutrition education
 Exercise program
 Bariatric surgery
 gastric bypass
 gastric banding