A nurse is providing care for a patient with an eating disorder. The patient states, "I feel so fat and disgusting." Which response by the nurse is appropriate?

Choice A rationale:

The response "You're right, you shouldn't be eating." reinforces the client's negative and harmful belief about not deserving to eat. This response is not therapeutic and can worsen the client's condition.

Choice B rationale:

The response "Don't worry, your weight is not a concern." dismisses the client's feelings and doesn't address the underlying distorted thoughts about their body and food. It's important to acknowledge their emotions rather than trivialize them.

Choice C rationale:

The response "It sounds like you have negative thoughts about your body." shows empathy and reflective listening. It opens the door for further discussion about the client's feelings and allows the nurse to explore their thought patterns.

Choice D rationale:

The response "Eating is not important, we should focus on your medication." minimizes the significance of the client's eating disorder and focuses solely on medication, disregarding the psychological and nutritional aspects of treatment.

Choice A rationale:

Gastric emptying. Gastric emptying refers to the process by which the stomach contents are emptied into the small intestine. While it can be affected by various factors, such as the type of food consumed, it's not a typical gastrointestinal symptom associated with eating disorders. Eating disorders often involve disturbances in eating behaviors, body image, and psychological aspects rather than the mechanical process of gastric emptying.

Choice B rationale:

Constipation and diarrhea. Constipation and diarrhea can be associated with various gastrointestinal conditions, but they are not the hallmark symptoms of eating disorders. In some cases, individuals with anorexia nervosa might experience constipation due to low food intake, but this is not a defining feature of eating disorders as a whole.

Choice C rationale:

Abdominal pain and bloating. Abdominal pain and bloating are common gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with eating disorders, particularly those who engage in binge eating or consume large amounts of food in a short period. The discomfort from overeating or consuming excessive amounts of food can lead to abdominal pain and bloating. Additionally, purging behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting, can also cause irritation to the stomach lining and result in abdominal pain.

Choice D rationale:

Nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are indeed common symptoms in individuals with eating disorders, especially those with bulimia nervosa. The act of binge eating followed by purging through vomiting is a key characteristic of this disorder. However, the question is asking about gastrointestinal symptoms typically associated with eating disorders in general, and not all individuals with eating disorders engage in purging behaviors.