Physical exam for eating disorders
During a physical exam for eating disorders, the health professional will:
- Check your weight and compares it with the expected weight for someone of the same height and age. Generally, a body mass index (BMI) that is equal to or less than 17.5 in adults is considered underweight.1
- Check your blood pressure, pulse, and temperature. Many people who have eating disorders have a sudden drop in blood pressure when they sit up from a lying position or stand up from a sitting position.
- Listen to your heart and lungs.
- Examine your belly for anything unusual.
- Check your hands and feet for swelling.
Other physical signs include:2
- Dry skin.
- Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia).
- Thinning or dull hair on the head and unexpected fine hair growth on the body.
- Low blood pressure (especially when you stand up).
- Low heart rate.
- Low body temperature.
Because vomiting is often part of an eating disorder, the health professional may also check for:3
- Inflamed or diseased teeth and gums or erosion of tooth enamel.
- Swollen glands in the neck.
- Broken blood vessels in the eyes.
- Teeth marks on the back of the hands or calluses on the knuckles from self-induced vomiting.
- Loose skin.
- Sores in the mouth.
| Author: | Jeannette Curtis | Last Updated: September 25, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine W. Stewart Agras, MD - Psychiatry | |
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