---
title: "Eating Disorders: Medical Issues"
url: https://mghmclean.org/residents/handbk/part2b/eat.htm
description: "2. Imminent medical risk: abnormal lytes, dehydration, malnutrition"
published: 2026-08-10
updated: 2026-08-10
---

# Eating Disorders: Medical Issues

Published 2026-08-10

PART 3 / CH 44

Roy Perlis

A. Indications for hospitalization

1. Body weight £ 75% of ideal body weight (IBW)

IBW= 100 lb. (5’ tall) + 5 lb. per additional 1” (women)

IBW= 106 lb. (5’ tall) + 6 lb. per additional 1” (men)

( BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)^2 ; normal = 20-25 )

2. Imminent medical risk: abnormal lytes, dehydration, malnutrition

3. Escalating or severe symptoms, with failure of outpatient mgmt

4. Other psychiatric emergency (risk of self harm, e.g.)

5. Arrested growth/development

B. Elements of evaluation

|  | Anorexia | Bulimia |
|---|---|---|
| Physical findings | vitals: bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermiaexam: lanugo, hair loss, dry skin, acrocyanosis, neuropathy | parotid enlargement, submandibular adenopathy, loss of tooth enamel |
| Labs | dehydration, acidosis or alkalosis, hypokalemialeukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia | hypokalemia, acidosis or alkalosis |
| Complications | amenorrhea, growth retardation, pubertal delay, osteopenia, arrhytmias, decreased GI motility | irregular menses, esophageal tears, gastric rupture, arrhythmias |
| Useful labs | - all: lytes, glucose, CBC- abnl lytes: EKG- amenorrhea: FSH, PRL, betaHCG- osteopenia: bone density | - all: lytes- abnl lytes: EKG |

source: Becker A (2000) Eating Disorders. In: Psychiatry Update and Board Preparation, 20