In this activity, you will take on the role of a practitioner who is working with a patient suffering from an eating disorder. Use your text to answer the questions below. Imagine that you are a practitioner who is working with Alicia. When asked to describe her eating disorder, Alicia says:"When I look at myself all I see is fat.I monitor what I eat every day and spend hours exercising trying to lose this weight. I know I have lost some weight and have not menstruated in three months. But know I have more weight to lose I just feel so fat." When doing your initial assessment of Alicia you realize that she actually weighs two-thirds of the ideal weight for someone of her age, sex, and height.

licia's description and my assessment paint a clear picture of a likely eating disorder, specifically **Anorexia Nervosa**. Here's a breakdown based on the information provided:<br /><br />* **Distorted Body Image:** Alicia's statement, "When I look at myself all I see is fat," is a hallmark of anorexia. Despite being significantly underweight, she perceives herself as overweight. This distorted perception drives her restrictive eating and excessive exercise.<br /><br />* **Restrictive Eating and Excessive Exercise:** Alicia explicitly mentions monitoring her food intake and spending hours exercising to lose weight. This points to an unhealthy preoccupation with weight control and a likely severely restricted caloric intake.<br /><br />* **Amenorrhea:** The absence of menstruation for three months (amenorrhea) is a common physiological consequence of anorexia nervosa. It's the body's way of conserving energy in a state of starvation. This is a serious medical complication.<br /><br />* **Significant Weight Loss:** The fact that Alicia is two-thirds of her ideal weight confirms significant and dangerous weight loss. This objective measure reinforces the severity of her condition.<br /><br />**My Initial Approach as a Practitioner:**<br /><br />1. **Medical Stabilization:** Given Alicia's significantly low weight and amenorrhea, my immediate priority would be to address her physical health. This might involve referral to a medical doctor for a comprehensive physical examination, including blood work, to assess the extent of the physical consequences of her starvation. In some cases, hospitalization might be necessary to stabilize her medically.<br /><br />2. **Psychological Assessment:** Concurrent with medical stabilization, a thorough psychological assessment is crucial. This would involve exploring Alicia's thoughts and feelings about her body, weight, and food. I would also assess for any co-occurring mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, which are often present in individuals with eating disorders.<br /><br />3. **Developing a Treatment Plan:** Based on the assessment, a multidisciplinary treatment plan would be developed. This would likely involve:<br /><br />* **Nutritional Rehabilitation:** Working with a registered dietitian to develop a meal plan to help Alicia regain weight safely and sustainably. This involves addressing her distorted eating patterns and helping her develop a healthier relationship with food.<br /><br />* **Therapy:** Individual therapy, likely Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Family-Based Therapy (FBT) (especially if Alicia is an adolescent), is essential to address the underlying psychological issues driving the eating disorder. This would involve challenging her distorted body image, negative thoughts, and unhealthy behaviors.<br /><br />* **Medical Monitoring:** Ongoing medical monitoring is necessary to track Alicia's physical health and ensure she is responding to treatment.<br /><br />4. **Support System:** Engaging Alicia's family and support system is crucial, especially if she is a minor. Educating them about the disorder and how to support her recovery can significantly improve treatment outcomes.<br /><br /><br />It's important to emphasize that eating disorders are complex and require comprehensive, specialized treatment. Early intervention is key to improving the chances of a full recovery.<br />