Diuretic abuse in eating disorders: Treatment protocol and case report

Abstract

Eating disorders are often complicated by the misuse of laxatives, diet pills, and diuretics. Although little attention has been paid to the problem of diuretic abuse as a method of weight control, diuretic abuse has been reported since 1968 in patients with anorexia nervosa (Wolff et al., 1968). A recent review article has documented the extent of diuretic use in eating disordered patients (Bulik, 1992). In a 1981 report of 34 bulimic patients, 29% (10 patients) reported having used diuretics for the purpose of weight control (Pyle, Mitchell,&Eckert, 1981). A subsequent 1985 study of 275 bulimic women found that 33.9% (90 women) used diuretics for weight loss reasons, 10.2% taking them at least once each day (Mitchell, Hatsukami, Eckert,&Pyle, 1985).