A nurse is caring for a client with anorexia nervosa. Which statement by the nurse is most appropriate?

The correct answer is C. Lack of interest in eating or food.

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a severe restriction of food intake due to an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and a lack of interest in eating despite physical hunger. Individuals with anorexia often engage in extreme dieting, excessive exercise, and other behaviors to maintain an abnormally low body weight.

Here’s why the other options are incorrect:

• A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating – This is more characteristic of bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder, where individuals consume large amounts of food and may compensate through purging or extreme dieting.

• B. Normal or slightly above normal body weight – Individuals with anorexia nervosa typically have a low body weight (often significantly underweight due to food restriction), unlike bulimia, where weight may be in the normal or above-normal range.

• D. Repeated regurgitation of food – This is characteristic of rumination disorder, a separate condition in which individuals repeatedly bring up swallowed food without nausea or distress.

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.