Eating Disorders

Question 1

Name the 4 types of eating disorder

Answer 1

Anorexia nervosa – restriction of food intake or persistent behaviour which interferes with weight gain.

Bulimia nervosa – recurrent (at least once per week for 3 months) episodes of uncontrolled eating of an abnormally large amount of food over a short time period (binge eating) followed by compensatory behaviour such as self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse or excessive exercise.

Binge eating disorder — recurrent episodes of binge eating in the absence of compensatory behaviours.

Atypical eating disorders (also known as ‘eating disorder not otherwise specified’ (EDNOS) or ‘other specified feeding or eating disorder’ [OSFED]) — symptoms of an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, or bulimia nervosa, which do not meet the precise diagnostic criteria.

Question 2

Factors contributing to an eating disorder - 5

Answer 2

• Female sex
• Adolescence
• Neurobiological factors -abnormal neurotransmitter activity and satiety related hormones
• psychosocial factors
• FH

Question 3

Complications of eating disorders - 3

Answer 3

• emotional disturbance
• family stress
• Physical abnormalities - CVS, MSK, Endocrine, GI, dehydration, cognitive impairment, dental, renal

Question 4

Differentials of eating disorders - 9

Answer 4

Malabsorption e.g. IBD, coeliac disease
malignancy
drug/alcohol misuse
depression
pregnancy
OCD
Body dysmorphic disorder
Hyperthyroidism

Question 5

Management of Confirmed Eating Disorder - 3

Answer 5

• consider what risk they are to themselves and whether they need addmission
• monitor growth and development of children very carefully
• Monitor physical health carefully e.g. dental hygiene, ECG, BP, bone density scanning