ABSTRACT
Eating disorder patients are often turned away when they seek medical help. Are there blood tests or physical findings that would help doctors make the diagnosis of a serious eating disorder? Case study: Julie
We took Julie to emergency when she was 16 years old. She had lost a lot of weight, which she denied, she was seeing her friends less often, she exercised much more than before, and we had heard her retching when she went to the bathroom after eating. The emergency doctor said her blood tests, her heart tracing (EKG), and her physical examination were normal. The doctor also told us that exercise was good, that Julie looked thin and trim. She denied vomiting and we were told to take her home.
Julie's parents