Eating disorders are a major cause for gastrointestinal problems and they are mostly caused by an individual’s perception about their body weight, size or shape. Apparently, in most cases people tend to avoid professional nutritional advice and the end up making abnormal dietary and nutrition decision which further predispose them to irreversible body responses and changes (DSM-5 American Psychiatric Association, 2013). In Joci’s case the entire dietary plan is distorted and inconsequential. It is clear that Joci is seeking to cut weight and has an obsession with their weight. Even when trying to cut weight or achieve a lean body, there is a need to develop a dietary plan that consistently helps the body gain sufficient energy to sustain the normal functions. Otherwise a diet that prioritizes cutting off weight without regard for the continued normal functioning of the body would be detrimental and a predisposing factor for nutrition complications in the future.
In Joci’s case, it is not debatable as to whether he has to quit the dietary plan since that is the only available option if at all he prioritizes his health. On one hand the weekly use of laxatives and enemas is a predisposing factor for the complete alteration of the ability of the gastrointestinal system to initiate the natural emptying of the bowel (Smink et al., 2014). Poor eating habits are the major cause of inconsistent bowel emptying and these cannot be resolved through the use of laxatives. The consistent use of laxatives renders the natural processes for bowel cleaning and emptying ineffective such that the bowel does not respond to the natural reflexes forcing the individual to rely on laxatives for this process. Joci can thus be described as currently abusing laxatives and enemas in their continued usage (DSM-5 American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
On the specifics of the diet, everything has been planned wrongly; Joci begins the first meal of day just before noon and it includes a fruits-only meal. Breakfast being the mots important meal of the day should be well balanced; it should serve to provide the energies for the day’s engagement as well as ensure bowel relaxation (DSM-5 American Psychiatric Association, 2013). In Joci’s case the fruits-only meal implies that will serve as an appetizer and thus will stimulate the production of enzymes within the stomach which will cause the eroding of the gastric walls. Joci’s lunch comprises of a meat-only diet and this is another of the wring strategies that Joci is adopting. Normally, lunch should be a well balanced meal of carbohydrates with smaller quantities of protein. In Joci’s case, protein (meat) is the primary meal for lunch and the continued intake of protein poses a high risk for the accumulation of cholesterol which subsequently turns out to be a predisposing factor for the development of cardiovascular illnesses and other related illnesses such as kidney stones (DSM-5 American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
On the other hand, the ingestion of meat over lunch time is a reason for the bowel inconsistencies since as meat as a protein takes ling durations to digest and thus the bowel is continually in action at a time when it should be in relaxation status. It is important to note that two or three hours after lunch time, Joci may likely experience low energy levels as the body will not have digested the proteins (meat) to allow for immediate release of the required energy and this further affects diminishes the importance of this dietary plan (Smink et al., 2014). For the dinner, Joci opts for starch and vegetables which essentially a light meal. While dinner should actually be a light meal, in Joci’s case it should be a heavy meal. This is essentially because as at the time Joci is taking dinner, the protein digested over lunch will have been significantly utilized such that the body’s reserve source of energy will be heavily depleted. The continued depletion of the body reserves will with time lead to anorexic complications for Joci (DSM-5 American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
References
DSM-5 American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Smink, F. R., Hoeken, D., Oldehinkel, A. J., & Hoek, H. W. (2014). Prevalence and severity of DSM‐5 eating disorders in a community cohort of adolescents. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 47(6), 610-619.
