A patient who is referred to the eating disorders clinic has lost ...

[karateprodigy]

A patient who is referred to the eating disorders clinic has lost 35 pounds during 3 months. To assess eating patterns, the nurse should ask the patient:
 
  a. Do you often feel fat?
  b. Who plans the family meals?
  c. What do you eat in a typical day?
  d. What do you think about your present weight?

Question 2

A patient with anorexia nervosa virtually stopped eating 5 months ago and has lost 25 of body weight. A nurse asks, Describe what you think about your present weight and how you look. Which response by the patient is most consistent with the diagnosis?
 
  a. I'm fat and ugly.
  b. What I think about myself is my business.
  c. I'm grossly underweight, but that's what I want.
  d. I'm a few pounds overweight, but I can live with it.

[bobsmith]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Although all the questions might be appropriate to ask, only What do you eat in a typical day? focuses on the eating patterns. Asking if the patient often feels fat focuses on distortions in body image. Questions about family meal planning are unrelated to eating patterns. Asking for the patient's thoughts on present weight explores the patient's feelings about weight.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Untreated patients with anorexia nervosa do not recognize their thinness. They perceive themselves to be overweight and unattractive. The patient with anorexia will usually tell others perceptions of self. The patient with anorexia will persist in trying to lose more weight.