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Is it acute or chronic? Acute anorexia would most likely be due to an acute febrile disease or acute psychiatric disturbance.
Is there a history of drug or alcohol ingestion? Alcoholics frequently ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
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Is there fever? The presence of fever would suggest an infectious disease, such as tuberculosis, AIDS, brucellosis, and typhoid fever, but collagen diseases and neoplasms should not be forgotten.
Is there anorexia? The presence of anorexia ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
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Unexplained, involuntary weight loss (defined as loss of 5% of baseline body weight over 6–12 months) is a common clinical presentation and is nearly always a sign of a serious medical or psychiatric illness. Numerous studies have independently... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Weight gain is a very common complaint in adult medicine and has a vast differential diagnosis. The key to diagnosis is often a good history and physical examination. It is important to quantify the degree and rapidity of weight gain by comparing old weights in the chart and questioning the... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Anorexia refers to a loss of appetite. The hypothalamus is thought to be the center of appetite control, but the stimuli that influence this control are poorly understood. Prolonged anorexia accompanied by weight loss or poor weight gain usually denotes a serious underlying... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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The norm in infants and children is to gain weight, so weight loss in a pediatric patient (unless medically indicated) should demand evaluation. Acute weight loss, defined as loss of 3–5% of body mass in less than 30 days, signals illness and is often... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Chronic diarrhea (nonbloody, without weight loss) is defined as increased total daily stool output (greater than 10 g/kg/day), associated with increased stool water content; diarrhea is classified as chronic when it lasts longer than 2 weeks. Per liter, normal stool of infants and... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Diarrhea is considered chronic when it last longer than 14 days. Weight loss with diarrhea should always be concerning and deserves thorough investigation. Collectively the malabsorption syndromes are the most common etiologic factors.
... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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... Physiology is the most appropriate basic science to use in developing a list of the causes of anorexia. A good appetite depends on a psychic desire for food; a happy GI tract that is secreting hydrochloric acid, pancreatic and intestinal enzymes, and bile in the proper
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... As noted in Table 62, the diagnostic analysis of weight loss is best accomplished by applying physiology. Food and oxygen must be properly and regularly brought into the body (intake), properly absorbed and circulated to the cells, and properly used; the waste products must then be
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... Anorexia, a lack of appetite in the presence of a physiologic need for food, is a common symptom of GI and endocrine disorders and is characteristic of certain severe psychological disturbances such as anorexia nervosa. It can also result from such factors as anxiety,... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Weight gain occurs when ingested calories exceed body requirements for energy, causing increased adipose tissue storage. It can also occur when fluid retention causes edema. When weight gain results from overeating, emotional factors —... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Pictures
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... Two groups of neonates are born weighing less than the normal minimum birth weight of 5½ lb (2,500 g) — those who are born prematurely (before 37 weeks’ gestation) and those who are small for gestational age (SGA). Premature neonates weigh an... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Weight loss can reflect decreased food intake, decreased food absorption, increased metabolic requirements, or a combination of the three. Its causes include endocrine, neoplastic, GI, and psychiatric disorders; nutritional deficiencies; infections; and neurologic lesions that cause... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers
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... Ankylosing spondylitis
Bilateral lesions of the lateral hypothalamus (hypothalamic anorexia)
Decreased food intake/malnutrition
Abdominal angina
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... Cessation of cigarette smoking
Congenital disorders
Alström syndrome
Biemond syndrome
Blount
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... The key feature of anorexia nervosa is self-imposed starvation, resulting from a distorted body image and an intense, irrational fear of gaining weight, even when the patient is obviously emaciated. A patient with anorexia is preoccupied with her body size,... Causes and incidence ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Anorexia, a lack of appetite in the presence of a physiologic need for food, is a common symptom of GI and endocrine disorders and is characteristic of certain severe psychological disturbances such as anorexia nervosa. It can also result from such... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Pictures
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... Weight gain occurs when ingested calories exceed body requirements for energy, causing increased adipose tissue storage. It can also occur when fluid retention causes edema. When weight gain results from overeating, emotional factors—most commonly... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Two groups of neonates are born weighing less than the normal minimum birth weight of 5½ lb (2,500 g)—those who are born prematurely (before the 37th week of gestation) and those who are small for gestational age (SGA). The premature... Emergency Interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Weight loss can reflect decreased food intake, decreased food absorption, increased metabolic requirements, or a combination of the three. It may be caused by endocrine, neoplastic, GI, and psychiatric disorders; nutritional deficiencies; infections; or... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers
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... Shawn H. Blanchard and Scott A. Fields
Anorexia is defined as the lack or loss of appetite, which can lead to unintentional weight loss. Interestingly, only 50% of people complaining of anorexia actually have documentable weight loss ... Approach. ... History ... Physical examination ... Testing ... Diagnostic assessment ... Pictures
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... David B. Graham
Involuntary weight loss is a challenging problem, often surrounded with fears by both patient and physician of an occult malignancy. Although malignancy is an important cause of weight loss, extensive and costly workups for occult cancers are... Approach. ... History: Initial data ... Basic physical examination ... Testing ... Diagnostic assessment. ... Pictures
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... Differential Overview
❑ Diabetes
❑ Depression
❑ Inadequate intake
❑ Drugs
❑ Hyperthyroidism ... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings ... Pictures
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... The key feature of anorexia nervosa is self-imposed starvation resulting from a distorted body image and an intense and irrational fear of gaining weight, even when the patient is obviously emaciated. An anorexic patient is preoccupied with her body size,... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Anorexia, a lack of appetite in the presence of a physiologic need for food, is a common symptom of GI and endocrine disorders and is characteristic of certain severe psychological disturbances such as anorexia nervosa. It can also result from such factors as anxiety, chronic... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Weight gain occurs when ingested calories exceed body requirements for energy, causing increased adipose tissue storage. It can also occur when fluid retention causes edema. When weight gain results from overeating, emotional factors — most commonly anxiety, guilt, and depression ... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Weight loss can reflect decreased food intake, decreased food absorption, increased metabolic requirements, or a combination of the three. Its causes include endocrine, neoplastic, GI, and psychiatric disorders; nutritional deficiencies; infections; and neurologic lesions... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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...Impaired weight gain and linear growth arecommon problems in the pediatric population and can occur separatelyor together. Disorders that significantly affect weight gain alsomay affect linear growth. Principal Causes of Growth Deficiency: Weight and Height ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis ... Diagnostic Approach ... References
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... Anorexia, a lack of appetite in the presence of a physiologic need for food, is a common symptom of GI and endocrine disorders and is characteristic of certain psychological disturbances such as anorexia nervosa. It can also result from such factors... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
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... Weight gain occurs when ingested calories exceed body requirements for energy, causing increased adipose tissue storage. It can also occur when fluid retention causes edema. When weight gain results from overeating, emotional factors—most commonly anxiety, guilt, and depression&mdash... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching
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... Two groups of neonates are born weighing less than the normal minimum birth weight of 51⁄2 lb (2,500 g)—those who are born prematurely (before 37 weeks' gestation) and those who are small for gestational age (SGA). Premature... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
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... Weight loss can reflect decreased food intake, decreased food absorption, increased metabolic requirements, or a combination of the three. Its causes include endocrine, neoplastic, GI, and psychiatric disorders; nutritional deficiencies; infections; and neurologic... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
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Physiology is the most appropriate basic science to use in
developing a list of the causes of anorexia. A good appetite depends on a
psychic desire for food; a happy GI tract that is secreting hydrochloric
acid, pancreatic and intestinal enzymes, and... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
...
As noted in Table 62, the diagnostic analysis of weight loss
is best accomplished by applying physiology. Food and oxygen must
be properly and regularly brought into the body (intake), properly absorbed
and circulated to the cells, and... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
In our weight-conscious culture, fat is usually viewed as the enemy. But fat is an essential part of every healthy diet. The key is keeping it under...
BMI is an often-discussed topic today. Learn the basics about this tool doctors use to measure obesity.
In our weight-conscious culture, fat is usually viewed as the enemy. But fat is an essential part of every healthy diet. The key is keeping it under...