Anorexia Nervosa Is a Serious, Life-threatening Condition That Requires Expert Treatment

C.M.L., aged 16 years old, visited FV Hospital’s Nutrition and Dietetics Department on January 25, 2021, severely malnourished and suffering from hypoglycaemia and anaemia. C.M.L. is 159 centimetres tall but only weighed 39 kilograms and had a BMI of 15.4. Before coming to FV, C.M.L. was examined at a clinic near to her home where she was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. C.M.L.’s symptoms included refusing to eat, or vomiting afterwards if she did eat, and being afraid of gaining weight. The patient was treated by a psychologist and a nutritionist at the clinic, but her situation did not improve, leading to a loss of 17 kg in five months.

According to the recommendation of an acquaintance, the patient met with Dr Nguyen Viet Quynh Thu, Head of FV’s Nutrition & Dietetics Department, for examination and treatment. Dr Quynh Thu measured the patient’s body composition with an Inbody machine. The results showed that the patient had a serious loss of muscle and fat with complications that required immediate hospitalisation. After C.M.L. was admitted, Dr Quynh Thu began to plan her nutritional treatment via two different methods: feeding through a nasogastric tube combined with oral feeding. In addition to nutritional treatment, the doctor explained that the negative thought and weight obsession that C.M.L. is experiencing needed attention. Dr Quynh Thu also shared how a suitable diet will help to keep our body healthy and at the desired weight. Understanding the problem, C.M.L. began to cooperate with the oral diet programme. After two weeks of intensive treatment with appropriate nutrition, the patient was discharged with a weight of 40.5 kg (an increase of 1.5 kg). Her gastric tube was removed as C.M.L. continued to cooperate with oral feeding, and she continued to have regular check-ups so that her doctor could measure her nutritional status and adjust her diet accordingly. After three months of nutritional treatment with Dr Quynh Thu, on her latest follow-up visit on April 20, 2021, C.M.L. weighed 45.2 kg, showing an increase of 6 kg in total. She had also gained back her normal muscle mass. C.M.L. is now healthy enough to continue studying, feel more comfortable, and no longer feels obsessive about weight. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterised by over-restriction of food and unreasonable fear of weight gain and physical disfigurement. It is associated with excessive weight loss. This condition is common in women. Anorexia nervosa causes harm to the physical and mental health of the patient. When treating anorexia nervosa, three main issues need to be addressed:

• Restoration of appropriate body weight;
• Psychological treatment for disorders related to the condition;
• Reduction or elimination of behaviours or thoughts that initially led to the eating disorder.

If anorexia nervosa is not treated appropriately, in addition to severe malnutrition, serious acute complications can occur, such as dehydration, hypoglycaemia, hypotension, electrolyte imbalance, and arrhythmias. Heart and kidney failure can begin and eventually lead to death. The most important factor in the treatment of this condition is proper nutrition. The patient needs to follow a specific eating plan established by a nutritionist.