A nurse is caring for a patient with an eating disorder. Which nursing intervention is appropriate for this patient?

Altered levels of leptin and ghrelin.

Choice A rationale:

Increased levels of cortisol and thyroid hormones are not commonly associated with eating disorders. Cortisol is a stress hormone, and while stress can play a role in eating behaviors, it is not a consistent physiological change across all eating disorders. Thyroid hormones play a role in metabolism, but their direct link to eating disorders is limited.

Choice B rationale:

Decreased levels of growth hormone and insulin are not commonly associated with eating disorders. Growth hormone and insulin are primarily involved in growth regulation and glucose metabolism, respectively, and their alterations are not central to the core characteristics of eating disorders.

Choice C rationale:

Altered levels of leptin and ghrelin are commonly associated with eating disorders. Leptin is a hormone that regulates appetite and signals satiety. Individuals with eating disorders may have disrupted leptin levels, contributing to disturbances in appetite and hunger regulation. Ghrelin is a hormone that stimulates appetite, and its dysregulation can also play a role in eating disorder behaviors.

Choice D rationale:

Elevated levels of sex hormones and growth hormone are not consistently associated with eating disorders. While some hormonal changes can occur due to malnutrition and extreme weight loss, they are not universally seen across all individuals with eating disorders. The hormonal changes seen in eating disorders are more often related to appetite regulation and metabolism.

Choice A rationale:

Significant weight loss or failure to achieve expected weight gain is consistent with the diagnosis of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) ARFID is characterized by a lack of interest in eating or food, avoidance based on sensory characteristics of food, concern about the aversive consequences of eating, and avoidance of foods due to a previous negative experience. This avoidance can lead to inadequate nutrient intake and, consequently, significant weight loss or the inability to achieve expected weight gain, especially in children.

Choice B rationale:

Recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors are not indicative of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) This behavior is more characteristic of bulimia nervosa, which involves cycles of binge eating followed by behaviors like vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise to compensate for the overeating.

Choice C rationale:

Persistent eating of nonnutritive, nonfood substances is a characteristic of pica disorder, not avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) Pica involves the consumption of substances such as dirt, paint, hair, or cloth, which have no nutritional value.

Choice D rationale:

Repeated regurgitation of food is a characteristic of rumination disorder, not avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) Rumination disorder involves the regurgitation of food that is then either re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out, without an associated medical condition.