This chapter surveys nutrition diagnoses that may be appropriate for patients with eating disorders. The most pertinent and urgent nutrition-related problem should be chosen for the nutrition diagnosis and phrased in the prob- lem, etiology, signs and symptoms (PES) format (1–3). The following sections use the organizational structure
of the International Dietetics and Nutrition Terminology (3) to group nutrition diagnoses in three categories: (a) intake, (b) clinical, and (c) behavioral-environmental. The data presented here are a sampling; they do not encompass all possible problems, etiologies, or signs and symptoms that may be relevant to a specific patient with an eating disorder.
SELECTED NUTRITION DIAGNOSES: INTAKE Box 7.1 Inadequate Energy Intake
Possible Etiologies: • Diagnosis of anorexia nervosa • Diagnosis of bulimia nervosa • Disordered eating pattern • Increased energy needs due to hypermetabolism • Lack of interest in food due to depression • Obsessive desire to lose weight • Increased energy needs due to increased physical activity
