Eating disorders in children and adolescents

Abstract

14-year-old Melissa visited your clinic with her mother for concerns of secondary amenorrhoea of six months. She did not have any headaches or visual disturbances and was not on any long-term medication. She also had dry skin and constipation. Her mother mentioned that Melissa had lost 8 kg of body weight in the past six months, leading to her current weight of 38 kg, citing school-related stress as a major factor. Melissa skipped meals in school and was unable to eat more than half a portion at dinner as she felt bloated and full easily, and got angry when her mother encouraged her to eat more. Her mother had noticed that she was more withdrawn and irritable recently. On examination, Melissa was 165 cm tall and weighed 38 kg. Her blood pressure was 92/58 mmHg, and her heart rate was 56 beats/min. You suspected the possibility of an eating disorder and decided to seek a more detailed history and targeted physical examination.