Discussion 2

Patient: hello.

Doctor: hello. How are you this afternoon?

Patient: please help me.

Doctor: please slow down. Let’s take this from the top. What is your name and where are you calling from?

Patient: my name is Julia and I am calling from John’s College.

Doctor: how old are you Julia?

Patient: I am 17 years old.

Doctor: ok. What seems to be the problem?

Patent: Doctor please help me. I am losing too much weight and the thought of good food terrifies me.

Doctor: how did this come to be? Please start from the very beginning.

Patient: it all started in my first semester at college.

Doctor: continue please.

Patient: I was admitted on an athlete full scholarship. This means that I had to maintain a high GPA and also take part in athletics activities. However, I started gaining weight in my first month and my level of performance really deteriorated in athletics. As a result I started dieting.

Doctor: did you seek any professional advice while dieting?

Patient: no I did not. My coach advised me to avoid fried foods and eat more of salads and that is what I did.

Doctor: ok. What happened next?

Patient: I was so terrified of gaining weight and losing my scholarship that I started skipping meals such as breakfast. I would get hungry but ignore the hunger pangs. I wanted my weight to drop from 130 lbs to 115 lbs and it did. However, it kept falling and now I don’t know what to do. I am also terrified of the notion of eating food that might make me gain weight.

Doctor: how do you feel when you think of food?

Patient: honestly I am terrified. I don’t want anything that will make me lose my scholarship yet I am worried about my body.

Doctor: take it easy Julia. Can you come to St. Martin’s hospital this afternoon for evaluation?

Patient: yes I can.

Doctor: fantastic. I will have my secretary book an appointment for you.

Patient: thank you doctor. I will see you in a few hours.