A nurse is caring for a patient with an eating disorder. Which of the following physiological changes is commonly associated with eating disorders?

Choice A rationale:

Allowing the client to continue avoiding meals to reduce stress is not a suitable nursing intervention. It perpetuates the unhealthy behavior and does not contribute to the client's recovery.

Choice B rationale:

Providing positive reinforcement for not eating to encourage progress is also not appropriate. Positive reinforcement should be directed towards healthy behaviors rather than reinforcing the avoidance of meals.

Choice C rationale:

Supervising meals and snacks to prevent food refusal or hiding is an essential nursing intervention. Patients with eating disorders often engage in secretive behaviors related to food, so supervision helps ensure that they are receiving the necessary nutrition and support their recovery.

Choice D rationale:

Advising the client to eat alone to avoid social pressure is not a recommended intervention. Eating disorders thrive on isolation, and encouraging the client to eat alone could exacerbate the issue.

Choice A rationale:

Altered activity of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine is a common neurobiological change associated with eating disorders. These neurotransmitters play key roles in mood regulation, reward pathways, and appetite control. Altered levels of these neurotransmitters can contribute to the development and maintenance of disordered eating behaviors.

Choice B rationale:

Altered structure and function of brain regions involved in processing hunger and satiety are commonly observed in individuals with eating disorders. Brain areas such as the hypothalamus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex, which are responsible for regulating appetite, emotions, and decision-making, can exhibit changes in their neural activity and connectivity due to the impact of prolonged malnutrition and distorted eating behaviors.

Choice C rationale:

Altered connectivity and communication between brain regions and networks is another neurobiological change seen in eating disorders. The brain operates through complex networks, and disruptions in the communication between different regions can lead to dysfunctional behaviors and cognitive processes related to eating and body image.

Choice D rationale:

This choice is correct. All of the aforementioned changes—altered neurotransmitter activity, changes in brain structure and function, and altered connectivity between brain regions—are commonly observed in individuals with eating disorders. These neurobiological alterations underscore the complex interplay between biological, psychological, and environmental factors in the development and progression of these disorders.