Product Description
Memior of struggle with anorexia ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Inspiring
Eating Disorders is a subject that is close, close to my heart. I am always in huge awe of anyone who has the courage to fight this disease and then to go on and share this heart-stopping experience with someone else and Katie Metcalfe has done just that in her excellent memoir Anorexia. As a addict, you discover a few realities pretty quickly - denial is huge and the other thing is that in order to survive and recover - you must give it away (or give back) to others so that you may stay in recovery.

Metcalfe has written touchingly about both subjects in her memoir and as I was reading Anorexia, I could see the progression (albeit slow at times) that Katie was making in discovering her inner truths and in keeping herself honest and on the path of recovery. Katie writes about her struggles with a touching hand and heart and does not shy away from sharing with us just harrowing and difficult her life was during her disease and yet, at the same time, she does not make useless excuses about how she got there or why she got there. Katie honestly opens up about "the voices" that she had to live with and how, at first, she let the voices "win" - but she soon discovers that there may another way - one that would permit her to be herself and to be at a happier place.

I could not read this book in only a few sittings as her entries are thought provoking and made me relive some of my own experiences - this book is to be read slowly - to be savored, analyzed and enjoyed.

Congratulations Katie! you are wonderful and my thoughts are always with you - to a fellow traveller as a friend of mine once called it. ... Read more

Product Description
Starting Year 11 is bad enough, what with all the exams and end of year party. But Eloise has to deal with the now. The appointment.

Sixteen year old Eloise Meehan, who has an eating disorder, begins a journey through therapy in an attempt to come to terms with the unspoken family secrets. But as relationships are built, and subsequently broken, it seems as if there are more questions asked than issues resolved.

Will Eloise find the support she crucially needs? And will looking closer to home help her to face her shocking past? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Eloise Meehan knows she needs help, but finding just the right person to help is becoming a problem.She is dealing with the accidental death of her brother, the suicide death of her mother, living with her chronically depressed father, and her own eating disorder.Her family doctor referred her to a therapist, but things aren't going well.

Mars bars are Eloise's favorites for binging.She and her friends are preparing for exams.They know their future depends on passing the tests, but their focus is more on the end-of-year party than on study sessions.They've been trying to distract Eloise with shopping for the perfect outfit for the party.They don't seem to see that she has a weight problem.Eloise is sure that people notice how fat she is, and she constantly dreams of her ideal weight.

Visits to the therapist have her obsessing more and more about her weight.At the hospital she sees other girls admitted there as in-patients.She looks at their skeletal frames and protruding bones and envies them.Her weight fluctuates from a high of 46kg to a record low of 39.1kg, and the more she sees these girls, the more she wants to be like them.

As the visits to the therapist continue, it is obvious they are not connecting.When the therapist wants to discuss weight issues, Eloise deflects her, and any attempts to deal with her family tragedy stalls out, as well.Eloise returns to her family doctor in search of someone else.It seems to be a Catch-22 for Eloise.She knows she has a problem, but her overwhelming desire to be thin prevents her from accepting help.

(Since SHRINK was written by an author from the UK, I found myself needing to seek help converting kgs to pounds so I could make sense of Eloise's struggles. I'll provide translation here for any future readers: 46kgs = 101 lbs., and 39.1kgs = 86 lbs.)

SHRINK by Heather Morrall takes readers through a year in the life of 16-year-old Eloise.With a life filled with the pressure to succeed at school while at the same time dealing with two tragic deaths and a father with problems of his own, there is no shortage of issues for readers to relate to.The issue of anorexia is a constant plot element and will have readers wondering if it is a result of Eloise's life tragedies or a legitimate problem of its own.

Reviewed by:Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" ... Read more

Product Description
An innovative treatment guide to anorexia nervosa describes the disease, which is viewed as a pathological distortion of society's preoccupation with dieting, and introduces a nurturing-authoritative therapy as an effective approach to the problem. Reissue. NYT. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not Helpful
This book is waste of time if you really want to learn about anorexia.It's very difficult to understand and the author seems to have some odd ideas concerning his clients.I also think he tends to encourage being too blunt and forceful with anorexia sufferers, something that only pushes them away. He also doesn't permit his clients to have enough choices in thier treatment.

the plot of this book
MAKE A BOOKTALKS ABOUT 2 PAGES TO TELL ABOUT THIS BOO ... Read more

Product Description
"Something changes. It's so sudden it's like a bus has charged down the road and hit me straight in the face. I have a plan. I could lose weight."

All Jasmine Harwood has ever wanted is a true friend, a best friend. But Corisande isn't trustworthy. In fact, sometimes Corisande doesn't act like she wants to be Jasmine's friend at all. With Cori's bullying, almost everyday turns into hell. That is until Jasmine finds an escape...

A dangerous world begins. A world of anorexia and silence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Needs Work
The beginning of the book moved too quickly at times (which made the book unrealistic) and some things were unclear.

However from the middle of the book on, it became suprisingly profound. If the beginning of the book had been better it would have desearved 4 or 5 stars.

Having an eating disorder myself I was able to identify and be somewhat inspired by the main character. Overall I was to some degree disapointed (especially that the quality of the book didn't match the price when it cost $14.15), but enjoyed reading The Echo Glass.

Realistic approach
I am not a teenager but as I have an interest in anorexia I decided to read this book.

It follows three years of Jasmine's life (as EDd people know, an ED does not come and go in a short period of time). She faces emotional bullying and as a result struggles to deal with life. She then falls into the trap of anorexia without really realising or understanding it.

There are some stunning scenes that had me at the edge of my seat unable to put the book down. It becomes apparent at the end of the novel what `the echo glass' actually stands for (there are various suggestions throughout which makes you think you've worked it out earlier but the real meaning comes later). Once Jasmine understands what the Echo Glass is the way is made clear for a possible step towards recovery. I felt that this was very important. The book realistically deals with an eating disorder and as a result does not have the cliched `happy ending,' (as many are aware these certainly don't occur over night!) The hint of optimism and a possible way forward are apparent but we are never sure if Jasmine takes this route or not (though the ending is far from depressing as we feel Jasmine has a new understanding). What we do know is that she has learnt what it is inside her and that she has the support of true friends.

I feel that this is a very important book and the imagery gives real depth. It is not only realistic in its dealings with eating disorders and bullying but it gives insight into the way that EDd people think. It also dealt with therapy in an interesting and thought-provoking way.

All in all I would recommend this book.
... Read more

Product Description
She was starving-but didn't know it. Discover how one young woman overcame her battle with anorexia in this compelling, true story offering encouragement, hope, and healing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Very Helpful!
This book was very good.I needed to read a book that would encourage me to continue to fight my eating disorder from a Christian perspective.I love the author's honesty that changing eating behaviors is and continues to be difficult for her, but it's worth the fight.I am reccomending this book to my friend who also struggles with an eating disorder.

Right to the Heart of It
After reading the reviews for this book, I felt compelled to write one for those of you considering the purchase of this book.

I agree with the comments that this book was very Christian in nature and if you are not a Christian then this book may not be the right approach for you to help you with your eating disorders.Also, if you do not have an eating disorder or are not struggling with low self esteem this book is not designed to help you understand friends or relatives who may have these problems.This book is designed to help Christians struggling with eating disorders.

As a strong Christian who has constantly battled low self esteem and continues to battle with bulimia and excessive dieting, this was the only thing that spoke to my heart and helped me see how destructive I was being.For me having a strong family support, going to a nutritionist, a secular counselor, and a christian counselor all failed to make much of an impact at all in my destructive eating disorder.They gave me important tools and helped me along the way, but when I sought out this book and read it with an open mind and a desperate heart, I was sucked in and really found peace within myself.

I wish I still had my copy of the book but I gave it to a friend to read because I wanted to share the message of this book.

I have never seen a book be so honest and so truthful about the thoughts, feelings, and hopelessness going on in your mind while struggling with day to day life.It made you feel like you were not the only one out there and still gave you so many amazing verses, ideas, and built you up in a way nothing else has done for me.I would suggest this book to anyone who is struggling with an eating disorder, with their self esteem, or with their self image.It is amazing.

Refreshing Christain view of ED's
Mrs. Pettit does an excellent job writing about her own personal journey through an eating disorder.Today we focus so much on secular ways to treat eating disorders that we forget that God is the only one the that can deliver one from the pain of an eating disorder.I found Mrs. Pettit's journey of using Christ's strength to get through her eating disorder very encouraging.She is the only person I have found so far that is willing to write about how God helped her through her battle.If you are looking for a spiritual way instead of apurely secular way to get through an eating disorder, read this book.You will not be sorry.

Good, realistic account, but may be triggering
Ms. Pettit gives an excellent, painfully honest account of what it's like to live with an ED. The one concern is that it may be triggering to anorexics whose overly-religious families contributed to their ED. Still, she gives a good example of how positive religion can be to recovery.

Any woman with low self-esteem because of weight-read this!
This book is incredible.It offers insight into the mind of a sufferer as well as giving honest truths about society's attitudes in general.I would recommend it to anyone who is trying to understand/overcome an eating disorder or is simply struggling with their self-image.It is interspersed with uplifting quotations which are fast becoming my fuel for fighting my thoughts.As a strong Christian trying to recover from anorexia it was overwhelming to read of Mrs Pettit's experiences and be able to relate them to my own.The truth and honesty of her story and how scarily like me it is shook me up and has given fresh determination to conquer my obsession.Giving it to my fiance to read has also helped me to expain feelings i cannot articulate.The best part is the focus on self-worth being about your qualities and importance as a person to other people and to God rather than your weight.Mrs Pettit is a fantastic role model and reading her book has been an experience which has opened my mind to a new,liberating way of thinking.So needless to say,read it! ... Read more

Product Description

"[Jennifer Hendricks] ... fought to be cured of anorexia nervosa. But as the diary she kept shows, a widespread lack of understanding about eating disorders and scattergun treatment programs make the battle almost insurmountable . . . a sorrow to read."

--The New York Times

"Patients' voices can all too easily be forgotten in the world of mental health care, but Jenny's voice rings strong. Through this earnest and captivating exposure, her father succeeds in keeping her story alive."

--David B. Herzog, M.D., president and founder of the Harvard Eating Disorders Center

Customer Reviews (23)

terribly out of date
I am just starting down the long road of treating anorexia. Believe it or not, my father, at the ripe age of 86, has developed a severe case. Not knowing much about the disorder, I bought books and started reading. This was the third book I read. I got it because it was about a father/daughter and thought it might shed some light on what was coming for us. But by page 36 I was questioning the "treatment" Jenny was getting. I found myself, even with my limited knowledge of the disorder, questioning what kind of therapist would ever say or do some of the things that were happening here. Finally, by around 50 pages into the book it dawned on me that despite a 2003 publication date, these events must have happened decades ago. It was hard to find the years these things happened in, in her journal entries you see only months/days. Eventually, by mentioning a movie she went to see and by closely looking at the clothing and hair style on the cover photo, it became clear these events took place in the 70's and 80's. Now these ridiculous "treatments" and "approaches" made sense, the knowledge base and treatment facilities at that time was in it's infancy.



Unfortunately, I was not interested in knowing how things were done 25 years ago when this disorder first became public, I need to know what to expect today. So while it is an interesting read, the "wasteland" of treatments they speak of is from the 70's and 80's and not current. I feel that should have been made perfectly clear early on and it is not.

Important voice to be heard
Slim to none is the diary of an anorexia patient, Jennifer Hendricks. This is a difficult and frustrating read. Jenny is totally confused through must of the book, due, not only by her severe eating disorder, but also through all the crazy "therapies" to try to heal her. It is an important story to be told to see just how misunderstood the disease was, even by doctors. Everyone had a different idea on how to heal Jenny, and most of them exceeding is only making her worse. The worst shame of it all is that Jenny tried so hard for so long and spent most of those years that she writes about, in one hospital or another. The last years of her life are revolved around her troubled thoughts and lost hopes of a normal life. I think this book is important for all doctors and families of people struggling with eating disorders. Also, anyone who is studying about eating disorders. As far as the story part of the book goes, it is repetitious, especially in the beginning, but keep reading, it is worth it in the end.

Like reading my own diaries from the past
I am a recovering anorexic. I was hospitalized numerous times before something inside of my mine just snapped and I was ready to let go. Really ready. And I am one of the very few lucky ones.

I love this book. Jennifer's father reminds me of my own and the struggle he put up to keep me alive.

My father never gave up. Jennifer's father held on until the very end when he finally gave in and knew she was going to die. My heart breaks for him, and for Jennifer.

Eating disorder treatment has come a LONG way since Jennifer's struggle, but it is still severely flawed. Insurance companies are atrocious and refuse to pay for long term care. Families without means to pay for repeated and extended treatment are left stranded. Every single person in my family, including extended family, took out a loan and combined their money to pay for my treatments. One private hospital took me in for free after my dad pleaded with them and my doctors had said I would die. This hospital, my family's love, and luck saved my life.

It shouldn't be so difficult to obtain treatment for a fatal disease. That's the message Jennifer's father is trying to get across. I've read some other reviews who express concern that people criticize treatment, and may be less inclined to seek it after reading this book. But I think it is a powerful statement that has been a long time in coming.

When are we going to view eating disorders as biological illnesses that cause psychological illness? When are the doctors and hospitals and insurance companies, not to mention society in general, going to see eating disorders for what they are?

Medical. Fatal. Diseases.

Like cancer of the mind. They must be fought early and aggressively. And it must be POSSIBLE to do that. For anyone who suffers with an eating disorder.

Thank you, Mr. Hendricks, for writing this book. Thank you.

If I could give it less than one star I would
I'm sorry, but there is nooooooooooooo way this book is better than Wasted.As a memoir junkie, I read pretty much everything that comes out, and as an ED sufferer Iof course read every ED memoir.I could barely even make it through this one; the only reason I did is that I paid for it in hardcover.It is ridiculously trite, annoying, and the dialogue is almost laughably bad. It's just absurd; I rolled my eyes so much I felt like I could twirl pasties with them.

Rock on with your bad self, Marya Hornbacher.

A Sad Chronicle of a 10-Year Suicide
Out of a sea of hundreds of titles on anorexia nervosa, Slim to None serves as a heartbreaking reminder of a cold reality. For every recovering anorexic who achieves long-term health, there are untold numbers of others who don't make it. There's an old saying among therapists that there are four barriers to recovery--health, wealth, youth, and brains. Unfortunately for Jennifer Hendricks, she had an abundance of all four. Part Shakespearean-style tragedy and part psychiatric case study, Jen's story is both fascinating and disturbing all at once. With the loving help of her father Gordon, Jen's voice rises from the grave through a series of journals kept over a ten-year period, from her high school days until her untimely death at age 25.

On the surface, the Hendrickses lived a life you see only on television. A close-knit family with five children (Jen is #3), the father had a nice steady job; the mother devoted herself to home and church. The two oldest children had already spread their wings and headed off to college. Jen herself was an honor student who later graduated valedictorian of her high school class. She had everything to live for. So what on earth would cause Jen to develop such strong pervasive feelings of disgust and self-loathing and to wish she were dead? There is no single answer, although her therapists certainly tried to invent one.

Jen bounced from many psychiatrists, therapists, and treatment centers. At one point she encountered a rather bizarre self-proclaimed faith healer, who attempted to perform a slipshod exorcism. Nothing seemed to help. Anorexia is like alcoholism in many ways. It is strong, chronic, and vexing, and it defies rehabilitation. There is considerable debate over whether anorexia has a biological base, is an outward symptom of deeper pathology, or is the result of external conditioning in a society obsessed with weight and beauty. Does an anorexic really "choose" to stay sick? Jen tries repeatedly to answer these questions herself. Maybe deep down she truly wanted death, because she lacked the inner resources to cope with life. Jen tried to hasten the process on a couple of occasions by cutting herself or swallowing pills. But she survived every overt suicide attempt, as someone always found her in time.

Although anorexia literally means "without appetite," Jen was hungry, hungry, HUNGRY. Starved for love and approval, she seeks them from an emotionally distant mother and equally distant and sometimes cruel psychiatrists and mental health workers. Jen often flashbacks to graphic images of profound physical and sexual abuse suffered at the hands of both relatives and family friends. In some parts though, it would appear that Jen developed a severe case of False Memory Syndrome. I personally believe she was somehow traumatized as a child; however, her memories may have been magnified and embellished in therapy. One reviewer surmised that Jen had Borderline Personality Disorder; while Jen may have displayed BPD characteristics, I am not qualified to make such an assessment. There is no doubt that Jen had Major Depression, and no one could come up with an effective treatment plan.

Jen may have reached numeric adulthood, but she remained a child, both in body and in mind, and a wounded child at that. She kept saying she wanted to get better, but anorexia was too ingrained in her very identity. And no one would or could help her carve out a new self-image that did not include anorexia. By the time Jen reached a real turning point--that she was "sick and tired of being sick and tired," and we see a true glimmer of hope for the first time ever, it is too late. Jen's body shuts down, tormented from years of abuse and having cannibalized itself just to make it to the next day. There was nothing left.

Overall, I am glad I read this book, for giving me new insights into the mystery of anorexia. Jen left us a valuable gift. However, my criticisms are based mainly on presentation and style. There were times when Jen went for months without a single entry. Gordon Hendricks attempts to fill in the gaps by recreating scenes and dialog that he personally witnessed, as well as hypothesizing what went on in Jen's therapy sessions. The connections are very choppy in places, and I had a hard time following--sometimes having to backtrack several pages to remind myself of where we were.

Also, while Jen's entries are dated, year stamps are noticeably absent. I suspect this was done intentionally, to give the book a "timeless" feel. However, there are clues as to the time period (e.g. references to movies, TV shows, etc.). My guess is that the action takes place from 1979 to 1989 or 1990. Anorexia was only just starting to come into the public consciousness. Without defending poor medical practice, which is pervasive throughout, if Jen's health team seems ignorant of anorexia, it's because they are! We have come a long way over the last twenty or so years.

For that reason, I am less concerned about fledgling anorexics using this book as a "how to" manual, and more worried that some people might see this book as Exhibit A of anorexia treatment. This in turn might prevent patients and their families from seeking the help that they so desperately need.

One other thing--we need to remember that Jen's story is viewed strictly through the lens of a sick girl and her grieving father. I would have liked some commentary from the mental health profession, like from a psychologist or psychiatrist who specializes in eating disorders. There were times when Jen's parents were advised to stay away from her, but that recommendation was likely more for the sanity of the parents than for the treatment of Jen.

Verdict: It's not a literary masterpiece, like "The Diary of Anne Frank." However, it deserves a spot in every high school, public, and medical library, as a chilling testament to one girl's life that went hellishly wrong and the betrayal by the very safeguards that had been set up to protect her in the first place. ... Read more

Product Description
Anorexia is a serious eating disorder.People with anorexia literally starve themselves, sometimes to death.This book explains who is at risk for developing anorexia, possible causes, the physical and psychological effects of the disorder and how it is treated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

intellectually interesting
Sometimes this gets a little braniac for me, but it addresses some interesting emotional causes.

Brilliant insights
Woodman wrote about eating disorders before they were vogue. Her personal insights through her own eating disorder and those of ther clients offer a deep look into these disorders. If you don't buy the Jungian perspective don't buy this book. But if you do you will find it well worth the price.

Far from the *WORST* book I have ever read
Marion Goodman is one of the foremost Jungian Analysts in the world.I have found ALL of her books, including "Owl Was A Baker's Daughter" to be exceptionally compassionate towards women.She has great reserves of empathy and profoundly subtle insights into feminine psychology.This book explores a very painful aspect of many women's lives, and the exploration is undertaken with scrupulous honesty, integrity and wisdom.

The Worse Book I Have Ever Read.
I find Jungian analysis interesting however this book is the most hateful book towards women, and fat people that I have ever read. The author has the most hateful attitude towards anyone that has any weight problems. She uses all the worse stereotypes towards people in these predicaments to forward her "theories" which ignore everything scientific about the human body. I guess in Woodmans world, we are all supposed to be stick thin and if we are not, this means we are psychologically disturbed. I think this author somehow felt morally superior to the women she was writing about. The horrible thing is she had case studies about "obese women" and they averaged ONLY 160lbs! Shocking. A sad disaster of a book. A hate manifesto disguised as intellectual enterprise. ... Read more

Product Description
Starving Souls is a long overdue in-depth look behind the closed doors of many children, tweens, teens and adults who are suffering with eating disorders. Infused with a spiritual perspective and insights, the book provides the reader with a cornucopia of information. This work encompasses the spectrum of eating disorders, and includes detailed analyses of the physical, spiritual and emotional conditions of the ED patient. Real-life stories present a backdrop for this comprehensive study of different interventions and modalities that have proven successful. Though based on Jewish religious doctrine, Rabbi Goldwasser s lessons are applicable to people from all walks of life regardless of their affiliation, who hope to understand or overcome an eating disorder. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Pairing real-life stories with models of interventions that have proven successful
STARVING SOULS: A SPIRITUAL GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING EATING DISORDERS isn't just another health coverage, but a spiritual examination of such disorders pairing real-life stories with models of interventions that have proven successful. Based on Jewish doctrine, all religions will benefit from and relate to the spiritual focus that blends overall analysis with practical techniques.
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

An inspiration to any and a strong addition to any health library
DYING TO BE THIN: THE TRUE STORY OF MY LIFELONG BATTLE AGAINST ANOREXIA tells of a woman who from age eight until she was nineteen battled anorexia nervosa. Her battle against food disorder charts years of tricks and techniques to keep her weight below normal and provides a survey of a painful road to recovery that will serve as an inspiration to any and a strong addition to any health library. ... Read more

Product Description
Interleaving the stories of therapist and client, this is a positive and helpful book for people with anorexia and those who care for them.Ayelet describes her experiences of this life-threatening illness, her repeated hospitalizations and eventual successful recovery, and includes examples of drawing and writing made when she was ill. Tammie, her therapist, outlines the progress of the cognitive constructivist therapy and the rationale behind her decisions and treatment considerations. Also included are an overview of current research into anorexia and its treatment and a glossary of key terms that make this book a comprehensive as well as inspiring resource. ... Read more

Product Description
Ever wonder what goes on inside the mind of a teenage girl trying to grow into a woman with an eating disorder? Find out in Nothing Left But Skin. A short poetry memoir of anorexia at its best. The negative, the mirror mirror anger, bowls full of depression, sprinkled with stress. Am I unforgiven in a secrecy of self starvation? Nothing left but skin is poetry that follows the author's 12 years of obsession with food and weight. A never ending battle that leads into the real issues swept into the dark closet until there's nothing left but skin. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a promising new author
I am in the recovery process of a eating disorder. This book has helped me accept the dark issues. The words are a perfect match to the feelings that I sometimes feel or did feel.There is such beauty and remorse in Nothing Left but Skin that I have reread it 3 times.It is poetry at it bestby making me feel that its ok to be who I am no matter what size. ... Read more

Product Description
Finally, some good news about eating disorders!For the millions of Americans who suffer from the mystifying starvation and binge disorders known as anorexia and bulimia, Russell Marx, M.D., offers a revolutionary new treatment approach directed to both sufferers and their families.Until now, some treatment methods for these conditions have concentrated on their psychological causes--with only limited success.Dr. Marx now presents a proven biological and psychological approach that also treats the underlying medical causes of eating disorders with a state-of-the-art combination of educational, behavioral, drug and cognitive therapies.With knowledge and compassion that come from years of experience, "It's Not Your Fault" defines these disorders, identifies those people who are at special risk, lists the warning signs, explores their causes and answers questions that everyone has about eating disorders. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

coping mechanism
Eating disorders are not biological in nature. They are correlated with child abuse and neglect. I guess that's why psychology has had such limited success. And the pills are merely bandaids with potential poison in them. The way for these disorders to be treated is for the patient to psychologically see in detail why they had this disorder to begin with even though dysfunctional families can be very scary to look at, especially your own. Once the patient has total insight, their eating disorder may very well be a thing of the past. Caution: the best therapist to get is someone who has been abused and neglected and healed. Others may as well be blind as I have personally found out dozens of times. Please keep in mind that many people including therapists have been abused and neglected even severely and have never healed. So get yourself a therapist who has been sucessful with your problem on themselves. ... Read more

Product Description
This primer on anorexia and bulimia is aimed directly at patients and the people who care about them. Written in simple, straightforward language by two experts in the field, it describes the symptoms and warning signs of eating disorders, explains their presumed causes and complexities, and suggests effective treatments.

The book includes:

-- guidance about what to expect and look for in the assessment and treatment process;
-- emphasis on the critical role of psychotherapy and family therapy in recovery;
-- explanation of how anorexia and bulimia differ in their origins and manifestations;
-- information on males with eating disorders and how they are similar to and different from female patients;
-- a separate chapter for health care professionals who are not specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with eating disorders;
-- up-to-date readings, Internet sites, and professional organizations in the United States and in Europe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A pithy gem
Deborah Michel and Susan Willard have drawn from their wealth of experience treating patients in one of the most enduring and effective inpatient eating disorders programs to create a concise introduction to anorexia nervosa and bulimia. When Dieting Becomes Dangerous is written plainly enough to provide a working knowledge of eating disorders to patients and families while going into sufficient depth to give treating professionals a valuable resource. It provides an elegant model of the treatment team, clearly defining the roles of each member as the team deals with both the target behaviors and the underlying struggle to create an enduring sense of self beyond the limits of body image.

Richard A. Moskovitz, MD, author of Carousel Music and Lost in the Mirror, 2nd Edition: An Inside Look at Borderline Personality Disorder

Ignorance is dangerous too
This small book by Michel and Willard is one of thebest and most accessible pieces of writing I have read about eating disorders. Without the hype and drama that the conditions usually inspire, the authors discuss calmly and thoughtfully the possible root causes of anorexia and bulimia as well as the route to recovery. There were several items in this book that I found useful - one was the comprehensive discussion of the ideal team approach to treating the disorders. The role of the dietitian is particularly interesting - I had never thought of the possibility that someone with an eating disorder would need a professional with that training not just for information about eating healthfully but to give the patient an outlet for his or her obsessive concerns about food, so that therapy could address other issues. Along those lines, Michel and Willard highlight the roles that other health professionals, such as dentists, can play in identifying and treating eating disorders. This is a must read for any health professional who might ever encounter someone with an eating disorder and not be sure of what to do. I also welcomed the discussion of the male patterns with respect to eating disorders - very often we categorize these as female problems and overlook the fact that boys and men can and do suffer from them, albeit in slightly different proportions and manners. I think this is also one of the few texts that discusses the role of the family without implicitly blaming family members for what has happened - and that is valuable to all concerned. All in all, a good read - quick and informative - and essential for anyone who has an eating disorder or knows someone who does. ... Read more