Question

A 15-year-old female gymnast is hospitalized with the diagnosis of bulimia nervosa. Which data would the nurse anticipate finding in the patient's admission history and physical assessment?

a. Excessive intake of food, self-induced vomiting, and use of laxatives
b. Refusal to eat, body image disturbance, constipation, and amenorrhea
c. Excessive exercise, refusal to eat, poor muscle tone, and social isolation
d. Hair loss, BMI of 27, occasional use of diuretics, calorie intake 2200/day

Answer 1

A 15-year-old female gymnast with a diagnosis of bulimia nervosa may exhibit excessive intake of food, self-induced vomiting, and use of laxatives.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing a 15-year-old female gymnast with a diagnosis of bulimia nervosa, the nurse would anticipate finding the following data in the patient's admission history and physical assessment:

1. Excessive intake of food: Binge eating episodes of consuming large amounts of food in a discreet period of time.
2. Self-induced vomiting: The patient induced vomiting after binge eating to compensate for the large food intake.
3. Use of laxatives: The patient may use laxatives to purge the food from the body.

These behaviors are common in individuals with bulimia nervosa and can have adverse effects on their physical and mental health.