Which nursing diagnosis would be a priority for a client suspected of having an eating disorder?

The priority nursing diagnosis for a client suspected of having an eating disorder is imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements. This diagnosis directly addresses the fundamental concern of eating disorders, which often involve harmful eating behaviors that result in inadequate nutrition. Clients may exhibit extreme behaviors such as severe restriction of food intake, binge eating, or purging, leading to significant weight loss, malnutrition, and various health complications.

By identifying imbalanced nutrition as a priority, nursing interventions can be tailored to assess the client's nutritional intake, monitor their physical health, and promote balanced eating habits. This approach is crucial because resolving nutritional deficits is essential for restoring overall health and well-being, which ultimately supports the client's recovery from the eating disorder.

While the other choices reflect important aspects of a comprehensive assessment for a client with an eating disorder—such as risk for injury due to potential medical complications, ineffective coping strategies that may contribute to the disorder, and social isolation factors—addressing nutritional needs takes precedence. This is because the client's immediate physical health must be stabilized to effectively treat the psychological and social issues present in eating disorders.