SHEILA L. VIDEBECK TEST BANK
Chapter 20: Eating Disorders
1. A 15-year-old female is admitted for treatment of anorexia nervosa. Which is
characteristic of anorexia nervosa?
A) Body weight less than normal for age, height, and overall physical health
B) Amenorrhea for at least two cycles
C) Absence of hunger feelings
D) Erosion of dental enamel
Ans: A
Feedback:
Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening eating disorder characterized by the client's refusal
or inability to maintain a minimally normal body weight, intense fear of gaining weight
or becoming fat, significantly disturbed perception of the shape or size of the body, and
steadfast inability or refusal to acknowledge the seriousness of the problem or even that
one exists. Clients with anorexia have a body weight that is less than the minimum
expected weight, considering their age, height, and overall physical health. In addition,
clients have a preoccupation with food and food-related activities and can have a variety
of physical manifestations. Physical problems or anorexia nervosa include amenorrhea,
constipation, overly sensitive to cold, lanugo hair on body, hair loss, dry skin, dental
caries, pedal edema, bradycardia, enlarged parotid glands, hypothermia, and electrolyte
imbalance. These clients do not lose their appetites. They still experience hunger but
ignore it and signs of physical weakness and fatigue. Dental erosion is characteristic of
bulimia nervosa.
2. The nurse is assessing a client with bulimia nervosa. Which of the following symptoms
would the nurse expect to find? Select all that apply.
A) Cold intolerance
B) Normal weight for height
C) Dental erosion
D) Hypotension
E) Metabolic alkalosis
Ans: B, C, E
Feedback:
The weight of clients with bulimia usually is in the normal range, although some clients
are overweight or underweight. Recurrent vomiting destroys tooth enamel, and incidence
of dental caries and ragged or chipped teeth increases in these clients. Metabolic
alkalosis often results from vomiting. Cold intolerance and hypotension are symptoms
associated with emaciation seen in anorexia nervosa.
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, SHEILA L. VIDEBECK TEST BANK
3. Which eating disorder is characterized by consuming an amount of food much larger
than a person would normally eat and of near-normal weight? Afterward, the client may
purge the food or exercise excessively, and between binges, the client may eat low-
calorie foods or fast.
A) Anorexia nervosa
B) Bulimia nervosa
C) Pica
D) Rumination
Ans: B
Feedback:
Bulimia nervosa, often simply called bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by
recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors to
avoid weight gain, such as purging, fasting, or excessively exercising. The amount of
food consumed during a binge episode is much larger than a person would normally eat.
Between binges, the client may eat low-calorie foods or fast. Anorexia nervosa is a life-
threatening eating disorder characterized by the client's refusal or inability to maintain a
minimally normal body weight, intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat,
significantly disturbed perception of the shape or size of the body, and steadfast inability
or refusal to acknowledge the seriousness of the problem or even that one exists. The
weight of clients with bulimia usually is in the normal range. Pica is persistent ingestion
of nonfood substances. Rumination is repeated regurgitation of food that is then
rechewed, reswallowed, or spit out.
4. When working with the family of a client with anorexia nervosa, which of the following
issues must be addressed?
A) Codependence
B) Control issues
C) Self-discipline
D) Sexual identity
Ans: B
Feedback:
Clients with anorexia often believe the only control they have is over their eating and
weight; all other aspects of their life are controlled by their family. Codependence, self-
discipline, and sexual identity are not pertinent issues to address with the family.
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, SHEILA L. VIDEBECK TEST BANK
5. During an initial interview at a clinic, a young female client states that there is nothing
wrong with her. Which would indicate to the nurse that this client might have anorexia
nervosa?
A) Episodes of overeating and excessive weight gain
B) Expressions of a positive self-concept
C) Flexible thought patterns and spontaneity
D) Severe weight loss due to self-imposed dieting
Ans: D
Feedback:
Clients with anorexia starve themselves and lose a large proportion of body weight, yet
call it dieting. In anorexia nervosa, clients do not have excessive weight gain or overeat.
Clients have a negative self-concept. Clients with anorexia nervosa exhibit inflexible
thinking and limited spontaneity.
6. What is the primary difference between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa?
A) Anorexia has a psychological basis, whereas the cause of bulimia is biologic.
B) Clients who are anorexic are proud of their control over eating, and clients with
bulimia are ashamed of their behavior.
C) Bulimia can be life threatening, whereas anorexia is seldom so.
D) There is no real difference between these two types of disorders.
Ans: B
Feedback:
Clients with bulimia know their behavior is pathologic and are ashamed of it; clients
with anorexia think they are fine and see no problem with their weight-control efforts.
Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening eating disorder. Studies of anorexia nervosa and
bulimia nervosa have shown that these disorders tend to run in families.
7. While assessing the family dynamics of a client with an eating disorder, which of the
following does the nurse most likely discover?
A) Multiple siblings
B) Lack of interest in the client by other family members
C) Supportive and encouraging relationships
D) Over controlling parents
Ans: D
Feedback:
Two essential tasks of adolescence are the struggle to develop autonomy and the
establishment of a unique identity. Autonomy may be difficult in families that are
overprotective or in which enmeshment (lack of clear role boundaries) exists. Such
families do not support members' efforts to gain independence, and teenagers may feel
as though they have little or no control over their lives. They begin to control their
eating through severe dieting and thus gain control over their weight. Losing weight
becomes reinforcing: by continuing to lose, these clients exert control over one aspect of
their lives.
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Chapter 20: Eating Disorders
1. A 15-year-old female is admitted for treatment of anorexia nervosa. Which is
characteristic of anorexia nervosa?
A) Body weight less than normal for age, height, and overall physical health
B) Amenorrhea for at least two cycles
C) Absence of hunger feelings
D) Erosion of dental enamel
Ans: A
Feedback:
Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening eating disorder characterized by the client's refusal
or inability to maintain a minimally normal body weight, intense fear of gaining weight
or becoming fat, significantly disturbed perception of the shape or size of the body, and
steadfast inability or refusal to acknowledge the seriousness of the problem or even that
one exists. Clients with anorexia have a body weight that is less than the minimum
expected weight, considering their age, height, and overall physical health. In addition,
clients have a preoccupation with food and food-related activities and can have a variety
of physical manifestations. Physical problems or anorexia nervosa include amenorrhea,
constipation, overly sensitive to cold, lanugo hair on body, hair loss, dry skin, dental
caries, pedal edema, bradycardia, enlarged parotid glands, hypothermia, and electrolyte
imbalance. These clients do not lose their appetites. They still experience hunger but
ignore it and signs of physical weakness and fatigue. Dental erosion is characteristic of
bulimia nervosa.
2. The nurse is assessing a client with bulimia nervosa. Which of the following symptoms
would the nurse expect to find? Select all that apply.
A) Cold intolerance
B) Normal weight for height
C) Dental erosion
D) Hypotension
E) Metabolic alkalosis
Ans: B, C, E
Feedback:
The weight of clients with bulimia usually is in the normal range, although some clients
are overweight or underweight. Recurrent vomiting destroys tooth enamel, and incidence
of dental caries and ragged or chipped teeth increases in these clients. Metabolic
alkalosis often results from vomiting. Cold intolerance and hypotension are symptoms
associated with emaciation seen in anorexia nervosa.
Page 1
, SHEILA L. VIDEBECK TEST BANK
3. Which eating disorder is characterized by consuming an amount of food much larger
than a person would normally eat and of near-normal weight? Afterward, the client may
purge the food or exercise excessively, and between binges, the client may eat low-
calorie foods or fast.
A) Anorexia nervosa
B) Bulimia nervosa
C) Pica
D) Rumination
Ans: B
Feedback:
Bulimia nervosa, often simply called bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by
recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors to
avoid weight gain, such as purging, fasting, or excessively exercising. The amount of
food consumed during a binge episode is much larger than a person would normally eat.
Between binges, the client may eat low-calorie foods or fast. Anorexia nervosa is a life-
threatening eating disorder characterized by the client's refusal or inability to maintain a
minimally normal body weight, intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat,
significantly disturbed perception of the shape or size of the body, and steadfast inability
or refusal to acknowledge the seriousness of the problem or even that one exists. The
weight of clients with bulimia usually is in the normal range. Pica is persistent ingestion
of nonfood substances. Rumination is repeated regurgitation of food that is then
rechewed, reswallowed, or spit out.
4. When working with the family of a client with anorexia nervosa, which of the following
issues must be addressed?
A) Codependence
B) Control issues
C) Self-discipline
D) Sexual identity
Ans: B
Feedback:
Clients with anorexia often believe the only control they have is over their eating and
weight; all other aspects of their life are controlled by their family. Codependence, self-
discipline, and sexual identity are not pertinent issues to address with the family.
Page 2
, SHEILA L. VIDEBECK TEST BANK
5. During an initial interview at a clinic, a young female client states that there is nothing
wrong with her. Which would indicate to the nurse that this client might have anorexia
nervosa?
A) Episodes of overeating and excessive weight gain
B) Expressions of a positive self-concept
C) Flexible thought patterns and spontaneity
D) Severe weight loss due to self-imposed dieting
Ans: D
Feedback:
Clients with anorexia starve themselves and lose a large proportion of body weight, yet
call it dieting. In anorexia nervosa, clients do not have excessive weight gain or overeat.
Clients have a negative self-concept. Clients with anorexia nervosa exhibit inflexible
thinking and limited spontaneity.
6. What is the primary difference between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa?
A) Anorexia has a psychological basis, whereas the cause of bulimia is biologic.
B) Clients who are anorexic are proud of their control over eating, and clients with
bulimia are ashamed of their behavior.
C) Bulimia can be life threatening, whereas anorexia is seldom so.
D) There is no real difference between these two types of disorders.
Ans: B
Feedback:
Clients with bulimia know their behavior is pathologic and are ashamed of it; clients
with anorexia think they are fine and see no problem with their weight-control efforts.
Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening eating disorder. Studies of anorexia nervosa and
bulimia nervosa have shown that these disorders tend to run in families.
7. While assessing the family dynamics of a client with an eating disorder, which of the
following does the nurse most likely discover?
A) Multiple siblings
B) Lack of interest in the client by other family members
C) Supportive and encouraging relationships
D) Over controlling parents
Ans: D
Feedback:
Two essential tasks of adolescence are the struggle to develop autonomy and the
establishment of a unique identity. Autonomy may be difficult in families that are
overprotective or in which enmeshment (lack of clear role boundaries) exists. Such
families do not support members' efforts to gain independence, and teenagers may feel
as though they have little or no control over their lives. They begin to control their
eating through severe dieting and thus gain control over their weight. Losing weight
becomes reinforcing: by continuing to lose, these clients exert control over one aspect of
their lives.
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