Understanding Eating Disorders

First published in 1994. As the incidence of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and obesity sometimes caused by compulsive eating has risen, so has research and literature in the field. Presenting current knowledge of these eating disorders - the most common types found in adolescents and adults - this book addresses issues relevant to all.; Examining the pertinent history, aetiology, psychotherapy, and sociology, the contributors define these eating disorders and discuss issues of recovery and methods of treatment.; They also consider the problem as it exists in both male and females in this multicultural society. The resulting volume is divided into four parts: the first gives an overview in general, and the next three focus individually on anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and obesity respectively.

Determine if your eating behaviors are a problem, develop strategies to change unhealthy patterns, and learn when and how to get professional help when needed with this practical, engaging guide to taking care of yourself when you are not a full-blown anorexic. Millions of men and women struggle with disordered eating. Some stand at the mirror wondering how they can face the day when they look so fat. Others binge, purge, or exercise compulsively. Many skip meals, go on diet after diet, or cut out entire food groups. Still, they are never thin enough.While only 1 in 200 adults will struggle with full-blown anorexia nervosa, at least 1 in 20 (including 1 in 10 teen girls) will exhibit key symptoms of one or more of the officially recognized DSM eating disorders--anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Many suffer from the effects but never address the issue because they don't fully meet the diagnostic criteria. If this is the case for you, then you may be "almost anorexic." Drawing on case studies and the latest research, Almost Anorexic combines a psychologist's clinical experience with a patient's personal recovery story to help readers understand and overcome almost anorexia.Almost Anorexic will give you the skills to:Understand the symptoms of almost anorexic;Determine if your (or your loved one's) relationship with food is a problem;Gain insight on how to intervene with a loved one;Discover scientifically proven strategies to change unhealthy eating patterns;Learn when and how to get professional help when it's needed.

Starting with an analysis of these conditions and an exploration of their complex causes, Giordano then proceeds to address legal and ethical dilemmas such as a patient's refusal of life-saving treatment. The book is illustrated with many case-studies.

This important book shows how psychotherapy can address severe eating disorders in children and young people, illustrating the ways an imprisoned self can be released from suffering. The book features a range of case studies while addressing core issues such as self-harm, hallucinations and the threat of suicide, as well as related topics such as depression and psychosis. Illustrating the psychological roots to eating disorders, it places therapy within hospital, clinical and multi-disciplinary contexts, as well as displaying how psychoanalytic theory can be applied across various settings and in different teams. Written by an eminent author in the field, this will be a key text for anyone wishing to understand eating disorders in children from a psychotherapeutic and psychoanalytic dimension.

"[Author Dana] Harron’s emotional and practical advice for this growing global predicament comes highly recommended." —Library Journal In this compassionate guide, eating disorder expert Dana Harron offers hope to partners of people with eating disorders. You’ll discover ways to communicate with empathy and understanding, strategies for dealing with mealtime challenges, and tips to help you both find your way back to trust, love, and intimacy. If your loved one is one of millions of Americans who suffers from an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, you may feel alone, without guidance or understanding. As a romantic partner, you need to know how to navigate issues such as parenting, sex and intimacy, and running a household. This book provides that help by addressing your uniquely complex and difficult situation, and provides much-needed support for growth and healing. In Loving Someone With an Eating Disorder, you’ll find valuable information about eating disorders, diagnostic categories, and common misconceptions. You’ll also learn about the importance of self-care and boundaries for yourself, and find writing and perspective-taking exercises to help you gain a greater understanding of your partner’s struggle. You’ll also learn skills to help you address specific problems, such as managing groceries and meals together, sex and intimacy issues, and concerns about parenting. Finally, you’ll find a practical discussion about treatment and recovery from disordered eating—making it clear that both you and your partner need healing—as well as information about seeking further support.

Eating disorders (EDs) are considered a major disease in the modern world, being one of the most prevailing public health problems among female adolescents and young adults in recent decades, and reaching epidemic proportions in many Western countries. The last two decades have envisioned an abundance of research in many aspects related to EDs. Nevertheless, EDs are still highly misunderstood disorders that often raise a host of negative emotions such as bewilderment, mistrust and fear. This new book reviews research on the diagnosis and classification of EDs, as well as the historical and socio-cultural aspects and the genetics, biology and psychological considerations involved.

Decoding Anorexia is the first and only book to explain anorexia nervosa from a biological point of view. Its clear, user-friendly descriptions of the genetics and neuroscience behind the disorder is paired with first person descriptions and personal narratives of what biological differences mean to sufferers. Author Carrie Arnold, a trained scientist, science writer, and past sufferer of anorexia, speaks with clinicians, researchers, parents, other family members, and sufferers about the factors that make one vulnerable to anorexia, the neurochemistry behind the call of starvation, and why it's so hard to leave anorexia behind. She also addresses: • How environment is still important and influences behaviors • The characteristics of people at high risk for developing anorexia nervosa • Why anorexics find starvation “rewarding” • Why denial is such a salient feature, and how sufferers can overcome it Carrie also includes interviews with key figures in the field who explain their work and how it contributes to our understanding of anorexia. Long thought to be a psychosocial disease of fickle teens, this book alters the way anorexia is understood and treated and gives patients, their doctors, and their family members hope.