A nurse is caring for a patient with an eating disorder. Which nursing intervention is appropriate for this patient?

Choice A rationale:

This choice is accurate. Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, can indeed lead to serious medical and psychological consequences. Individuals with these disorders may experience electrolyte imbalances, heart problems, gastrointestinal issues, and severe emotional distress.

Choice B rationale:

This choice is accurate. Eating disorders are more common among adolescents and young adults. These age groups are particularly vulnerable due to factors like body image concerns, peer pressure, and societal influences that emphasize thinness.

Choice C rationale:

This choice is accurate. Eating disorders are influenced by a combination of biological, psychological, environmental, and cultural factors. Genetic predisposition, psychological stressors, societal beauty standards, and family dynamics can all contribute to the development of eating disorders.

Choice D rationale:

This choice is incorrect. Eating disorders do not exclusively affect females. While historically, eating disorders have been associated with females, males can also develop eating disorders. The prevalence of eating disorders in males has been increasing, emphasizing the need to recognize and address these disorders in all genders.

Recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors.

Choice A rationale:

Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry is not a characteristic of bulimia nervosa. While individuals with bulimia nervosa do experience episodes of binge eating, this behavior is not dependent on physical hunger.

Choice B rationale:

Recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors are indeed a characteristic of bulimia nervosa. Binge eating involves consuming a large amount of food in a short period, accompanied by a sense of lack of control. The compensatory behaviors, such as vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise, are aimed at counteracting the perceived consequences of the binge eating, such as weight gain.

Choice C rationale:

Persistent eating of nonnutritive, nonfood substances, known as pica, is not a characteristic of bulimia nervosa. Pica is a separate eating disorder that involves the consumption of non-food items such as hair, paper, or soil.

Choice D rationale:

Recurrent purging behavior to influence weight or shape is more closely associated with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa. While purging behaviors like vomiting or using laxatives can also occur in bulimia nervosa, they are not specific to it.