Nutritional management of anorexia.

Abstract

The prevalence of eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, is increasing in young adults, particularly young adult women. Sometimes, gastrointestinal complaints in patients with anorexia nervosa may lead to an erroneous diagnosis of gastrointestinal disease and unnecessary diagnostic studies and therapies. In contrast, patients with gastrointestinal disease may experience anorexia because of abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms induced by eating. In these patients, anorexia minimizes symptoms and can obscure the underlying gastrointestinal disease by "resting" the bowel. Therefore, a careful history and physical examination and laboratory tests are needed to make the correct diagnosis and begin appropriate treatment.