This encyclopedia offers a variety of resources for readers interested in learning more about eating disorders, including hundreds of reference entries, interviews, scholarly debates, and case studies. While many people may reflexively imagine an anorexic or bulimia teenage girl upon being asked to think about eating disorders, eating disorders are a form of mental illness that can take many forms and affect individuals of all genders, ages, and ethnic backgrounds. In fact, an estimated eight million people in the United States struggle with an eating disorder, making eating disorders one of the most prevalent forms of mental illness in America. This two-volume encyclopedia comprehensively examines eating disorders as the forms they can take; their causes and potential complications; and how they can best be treated and prevented. It also examines the influence had by cultural factors such as the fashion industry, television and movies, and social media. More than just a simple A-to-Z reference, Eating Disorders: Understanding Causes, Controversies, and Treatment also includes valuable features such as Q&A interviews with those affected by and working to combat eating disorders, case studies, scholarly essays that voice opinions in key debates, and a directory of resources for individuals seeking help. Reflects recent changes in approaches to eating disorders brought about by the publication of the latest edition of the DSM Explores key issues related to eating disorders and models critical thinking and argument construction in the Controversies and Debates section Offers insights from a variety of perspectives expounded upon in interviews with scholars, eating disorder professionals, patients, and family members Gives readers a "real world" look at the many ways eating disorders can manifest and progress in the Case Illustrations section

"An indispensable resource for women of all ages, this is a guide to help us better connect to ourselves, to value ourselves, to love ourselves, and ultimately, to be ourselves." --Chelsea Clinton Positive body image isn't believing your body looks good; it is knowing your body is good, regardless of how it looks. How do you feel about your body? Have you ever stayed home from a social activity or other opportunity because of concern about how you looked? Have you ever passed judgment on someone because of how they looked or dressed? Have you ever had difficulty concentrating on a task because you were self-conscious about your appearance? Our beauty-obsessed world perpetuates the idea that happiness, health, and ability to be loved are dependent on how we look, but authors Lindsay and Lexie Kite offer an alternative vision. With insights drawn from their extensive body image research, Lindsay and Lexie--PhDs and founders of the nonprofit Beauty Redefined (and also twin sisters!)--lay out an action plan that arms you with the skills you need to reconnect with your whole self and free yourself from the constraints of self-objectification. From media consumption to health and fitness to self-reflection and self-compassion, Lindsay and Lexie share powerful and practical advice that goes beyond "body positivity" to help readers develop body image resilience--all while cutting through the empty promises sold by media, advertisers, and the beauty and weight-loss industries. In the process, they show how facing your feelings of body shame or embarrassment can become a catalyst for personal growth.

Eating can be a source of great pleasure--or deep distress. If you've picked up this book, chances are you're looking for tools to transform your relationship with food. Grounded in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), this motivating guide offers a powerful pathway to change. Drs. Debra L. Safer, Sarah Adler, and Philip C. Masson have translated their proven, state-of-the-art treatment into a compassionate self-help resource for anyone struggling with bingeing and other types of "stress eating." You will learn to: *Identify your emotional triggers. *Cope with painful or uncomfortable feelings in new and healthier ways. *Gain awareness of urges and cravings without acting on them. *Break free from self-judgment and other traps. *Practice specially tailored mindfulness techniques. *Make meaningful behavior changes, one doable step at a time. Vivid examples and stories help you build each DBT skill. Carefully crafted practical tools (you can download and print additional copies as needed) let you track your progress and fit the program to your own needs. Finally, freedom from out-of-control eating--and a happier future--are in sight. Mental health professionals, see also the related treatment manual, Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Binge Eating and Bulimia, by Debra L. Safer, Christy F. Telch, and Eunice Y. Chen.

Do you struggle with Ana (anorexia) or have a difficult relationship with food and body image? Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) have the potential to transform your life and put you on the path to recovery. Here, honest diary extracts relay Kim Marshall's own struggles with anorexia and bulimia, including time spent in a residential treatment centre, and how she discovered EFT and learned to quiet the negative voices that were blocking her recovery. Now fully-recovered and a certified EFT practitioner, Kim explains how to use the approach as a self-help tool. Including easy-to-follow EFT scripts and positive mantras to help you stay on the path to recovery, Kim explains how to use EFT to help overcome denial and fears about recovery from anorexia. This candid account of recovery from eating disorders shows how it is possible to deal with underlying emotional issues and achieve a more positive mindset.

'I'm just a nitwit girl who's sort-of stumbling through life learning that we all have our own roads to walk - but that it's still valuable, and rather lovely, to hear about other people's journeys . . . ' Growing up in an online age, becoming an internet sensation with half a million followers on her YouTube Channel, Irish girl Melanie Murphy's journey has been far from ordinary. Here, in her first book, she shares the ups and downs of her life. From dealing with online bullying, to living with anxiety and eating disorders to coping with acne and coming to terms with her sexuality, Melanie shows us how through difficult times we can learn the most about ourselves. And that, by learning to value and love ourselves, we can overcome whatever life throws at us.

Increasing numbers of children and young people are presenting for treatment of an eating disorder, but there are many different types and they are often confused, making it difficult to know what support to offer. This easy-to-read guide presents all the vital information on a range of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, selective eating, and avoidant and restrictive intake disorders. Each eating disorder is clearly defined, making it easy to draw distinctions between them. The book covers their origins, characteristics and typical development, letting teachers and parents know what signs to look out for. There is practical advice on how to help young people, strategies for overcoming common difficulties, as well as information on available treatments. Vignettes feature throughout to help teachers and parents apply knowledge to real-life situations. This is an essential resource for teachers and parents of children and young people with eating disorders.

Purge is a beautifully crafted memoir that has a Girl, Interrupted feel. In this raw and engaging account of her months in rehab, Nicole Johns documents her stay in a residential treatment facility for eating disorders. Her prose is lucid and vivid, as she seamlessly switches verb tenses and moves through time. She unearths several important themes: body image and sexuality, sexual assault and relationships, and the struggle to piece together one's path in life. While other books about eating disorders and treatment may sugarcoat the harsh realities of living with and recovering from an eating disorder, Purge does not hold back. The author presents an honest, detailed account of her experience with treatment, avoiding the cliched happily-ever-after ending while still offering hope to those who struggle with eating disorders, as well as anyone who has watched a loved one fight to recover from an eating disorder. Purge sends a message: though the road may be rough, ultimately there is hope.

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.

Beating anorexia is much more than a physical process. To overcome the mental and social challenges in recovery, you will need motivation, strength and a positive new mindset. Having recovered from disordered eating herself, health psychologist Nicola Davies has developed an individual-focused plan that will help make recovery seem less overwhelming, and provide you with the skills you need to get better and stay well in the long-term. With workbook style exercises, this book will help you to identify the underlying causes of your anorexia, focusing on building your emotional wellbeing and confidence before giving tips on how you can make positive changes to your thinking and behaviour. Innovative and approachable, it will enable you to find the best way for you to recover your health and wellbeing.

I Can Beat Obesity! is not just about losing weight. It is about changing your psychological mindset and finding the drive and strength to improve your health. Having recovered from disordered eating herself, Nicola Davies recognises that beating obesity is not about fad diets and yo-yoing weight, but about your psychological motivation, confidence and skills to both lose weight and prevent relapse in the long term. The workbook style exercises will help you to develop key self-help tools for overcoming obesity. Focussing on building your emotional wellbeing in areas such as self-worth, confidence and working towards goals before making changes to diet, this will be an essential companion on the path to maintaining control of your weight and recovering your health and wellbeing.

Tennie McCarty, herself a recovered overeater, food addict and bulimic, believes that food addiction is a physical and mental problem with a spiritual solution. Here, she offers practical solutions and a step-by-step programme that teaches you how to let go of the bad feelings that have imprisoned you and the never-ending cycle of diets, binges, negative behaviour and broken promises.

Many people with an eating disorder also suffer from low self-esteem, depression and anxiety. Eating disorders such an Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia are maladaptive coping mechanisms, and recovery requires the learning of new, healthy coping skills. One Life is a positive and inspirational first person account of one girl's path to recovery. The book boldly details her eleven-week stay in a residential eating disorder clinic - showing her progress from near-death on admission to a full recovery on departure. Each of the 11 chapters of the book deals with a week of her stay there, and opens with a positive coping strategy, and advice as to how and when to use it. Encouraging readers that a setback is nothing more than a challenge to be overcome, this inspirational book will help people at all stages of recovery from an eating disorder, as well as their families, and the psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, social workers and other health professionals who work with them.

People living with eating disorders find it hard to take the step of choosing recovery, often because the disorder has developed as a way of `coping' with problems or stresses in the their life. This book outlines new and positive ways of dealing with eating disorders for people living with eating disorders and their families. A practical workbook written by someone who has lived with eating disorder, it provides advice and strategies to aid understanding and to help the reader to gain control of their illness. Anna Paterson leads the reader through easy-to-use therapeutic exercises, such as describing the pros and cons of an illness, writing a farewell letter to it, and using role-reversal scenarios to get a new perspective on their attitude to eating. She emphasizes the importance of taking things at your own pace and in the final section of the book provides a set of diet plans specifically designed for anorexics, bulimics and compulsive overeaters. This book will be valued by people living with eating disorders and their families, and also the psychologists and psychotherapists, counsellors, health professionals and social workers who work with them.

Gives an overview of Body Dysmorphic Disorder, including symptoms, warning signs, ways of detection, and treatment.