A thoroughly up-to-date reference for researchers who specialize in obesity and clinicians who specialize in working with clients with problem eating behaviors, Handbook of Assessment Methods for Eating Disorders and Weight-Related Problems, Second Edition, offers the field's most comprehensive collection of measures and assessment tools related to eating behaviors.

In addition to obesity (an issue that has reached epidemic proportions in the United States), the Handbook deals with problem eating behaviors, eating disorders, and the associated psychological issues that underlie these problems. This Second Edition provides the latest research and theory, along with empirically validated assessment tools for measuring attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors with regard to food, including:

General personality assessment and psychopathology of persons with eating and weight-related concerns

Quality of life assessments

Measuring attitudes and beliefs about obese people

Assessment of body image

Measures of restrained eating

Measures of physical activity

Measuring food intake

Binge eating and purging

Eating and weight-related problems with children

Identification of psychological problems of patients with eating disorders

New and Continuing Features:

No other resource offers such a comprehensive collection of assessment methods for eating disorders and weight-related problems in one volume. Contributions from highly regarded scholars and researchers in the field offer up-to-date, academically rigorous, and research-based information. The volume's Introduction emphasizes the importance of research in this area and highlights the changes in the field over the past decade.

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A number of avenues of research indicate that neurobiological abnormalities may be involved in eating disorders. An important component of this may be some form of dysfunction in cognitive processing. The aim of this book is to review the results and implications of previous research into neuropsychological function in Eating Disorders (ED), focusing on the diagnoses of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Bulimia Nervosa (BN). Published articles on this topic, uncovered in a recent systematic literature search, are summarised here in a table format, allowing the straightforward comparison of materials, methods and results across studies. Whilst providing insight into potential areas of cognitive dysfunction in this clinical group, the neuropsychological data that exists for eating disorders is somewhat unclear. A number of methodological limitations are inherent in this literature; with issues ranging from sample characteristics to study design and the variety of tests employed, thus restricting the conclusions that may be derived. Suggestions as to how these limitations may be overcome and potential directions for future research are discussed accordingly. We advocate the adoption of a hypothesis driven approach to explore neuropsychological processing in Eating Disorders, the utility of which has been confirmed in the ongoing work of our department. Based on clinical observation and personality research, our hypotheses with regards to reduced cognitive flexibility in individuals with AN have consistently been endorsed. Neuropsychological research has both important theoretical and clinical implications, advancing understanding with regards to aetiology and phenotypes of disorder. The knowledge derived from hypothesis driven neuropsychological studies may be applied practically in research and treatment settings, with the potential to initiate the development of innovative treatment interventions, as has been seen with other psychiatric disorders.

With its primary focus on the psychology of eating from a social, health, and clinical perspective, the second edition of "The" "Psychology of Eating: " "From" "Healthy to" "Disordered" "Behavior" presents an overview of the latest research into a wide range of eating-related behaviors Features the most up-to-date research relating to eating behaviorIntegrates psychological knowledge with several other disciplinesWritten in a lively, accessible styleSupplemented with illustrations and maps to make literature more approachable

According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Related Disorders, the National Eating Disorders Association, and the National Institute of Mental Health, between 5 and 10 million Americans suffer from eating disorders. Most are female although an estimated 5 to 10 per cent of people with anorexia or bulimia, as well as 35 percent of those with binge-eating disorders, are male. ""The Truth About Eating Disorders, Second Edition"" is an updated A-to-Z guide that addresses everything from the lifelong effects of anorexia to the pressures and stresses that often lead to one or more of these disorders. Offering important facts, testimonies, and demonstrations that illustrate the serious dangers of eating disorders, this useful volume helps teens find a healthier way to deal with their problems. New and revised entries include: anorexia; bigorexia; binge-eating disorder; bulimia; caloric intake and expenditures; causes of eating disorders; depression and weight; ethnicity, genetics, and eating disorders; fad diets; internet and eating disorders; morbidity and mortality; obesity; stress and eating habits; and, weight control.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder among men and women. This book centres on binge eating, which consists of episodes of uncontrollable overeating, followed by compensatory behaviour (ie: purging, fasting, heavy exercising). People who suffer from this disease often try to hide their binge-eating episodes from others, and often feel ashamed or depressed about their overeating. Many factors may contribute to binge-eating, such as dissociation, which may undermine an individual's body image, and impulsivity. This book focuses on such factors as well as the frequency with which such behaviours occur in multi-ethnic populations, and the differences in frequency rates as a function of gender and identity. The differences in binge eating and bulimia nervosa behaviours are also explained, as well as the theory that binging on some palatable foods, such as sugar, can result in addictive-like behaviour. The association between emotional abuse in childhood and future binge eating episodes are explained as well as the prevalence of BE episodes in overweight or obese children or adolescents. The effectiveness of certain treatments for binge-eating are described, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), motivational enhancement therapy (MET) and combined treatment.

What does the evidence suggest is the most effective treatment for an individual with Anorexia Nervosa? What treatment is effective for someone with Bulimia Nervosa? Is there data to support the treatment of Binge Eating Disorder? Is there any evidence to support what treatment will be effective for Obesity? These important considerations will be reviewed in this current and comprehensive review of the existing evidence-based practices. This will serve as a resource for individuals with an eating disorder, their families, practitioners, students in nutrition, psychology, social work and psychiatry, as well as the general public. Anorexia Nervorsa, Bulima Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder and Obesity are prevalent public health concerns that cause significant morbidity and mortality. As the scientific literature accumulates a body of information regarding these clinical problems, this book serves as an invaluable reference providing a summary of the current evidence in the literature.

Written in accessible but medically accurate prose, "Anorexia" provides a detailed explanation of how the diagnosis of anorexia is made, common physical and personality characteristics of those affected by the illness, and both short and long-term complications.

"Anorexia" takes the discussion a step further than similar books on the subject by placing the disease in context with a broad survey of the history of self-starvation from Antiquity to the present, and it tackles the difficult question of whether anorexia nervosa existed before the 19th century or is a uniquely modern disease. The book evaluates in detail the social, economic and cultural environments within which self-starvation has occurred historically, and it analyzes competing theories of the disease's origins--including sociocultural, developmental, biochemical, and genetic hypotheses. The book also provides coverage of several often overlooked topics, such as the incidence of anorexia among young men, and it makes use of the personal narrative of an anorexic throughout to give the reader some sense of what it feels like to have anorexia and what someone with anorexia may be thinking.

An indispensable clinical resource, this groundbreaking book is the first treatment manual to focus specifically on adolescent bulimia nervosa. The authors draw on their proven approach to treating anorexia nervosa in the family context and adapt it to the unique needs of this related yet distinct clinical population. Evidence-based strategies are presented for helping the whole family collaborate to bring dysfunctional eating behaviors under control, while also addressing co-occurring psychological problems and parent-child relationship conflicts. Highly practical, the book shows exactly how to carry out this time-limited therapy and what to do when problems arise. Special features include annotated session transcripts and answers to frequently asked questions.

Eating disorders comprise a range of physical, psychological and behavioural features that often have an impact on social functioning and can invade most areas of the sufferer's life. Although eating and weight disorders are common in children and adolescents, there is a scarcity of practical guidance on treatment methods for eating disorders in young people. In this book, Simon Gowers and Lynne Green bring together up-to-date research, clinical examples and useful tips to guide practitioners in working with young people, as well as helping families of children and adolescents to deal with their difficulties. Eating Disorders provides the clinician with an introduction about how CBT can be used to challenge beliefs about control, restraint, weight and shape, allowing young people to manage their eating disorder. Chapters cover: preparing for therapy a CBT treatment programme applications and challenges. This practical text will be essential reading for mental health professionals, paediatric teams and those in primary care working with children and adolescents with eating disorders. It will benefit those working with both sufferers themselves and families who have difficulty understanding the disorder.

"Women who read this book will be inspired to throw away their diets and scales and pick up on the nurturing, caring voice presented in these pages." --Jane R. Hirschmann and Carol H. Munter, authors of "Overcoming Overeating."
Carol Emery Normandi and Laurelee Roark founded the nonprofit organization Beyond Hunger, Inc. because they had each struggled for years with eating disorders--and discovered that most of the programs available couldn't provide true, permanent recovery. To achieve that, they found they had to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds that lay at the core of their unhealthy eating behavior--to go beyond the hunger of their physical bodies and meet the hunger that resided in their very souls. The techniques used in the Beyond Hunger workshops have helped many women change their minds about food and weight--and change their lives in the process. This compassionate, supportive book shows how it can be done--and offers to help women put an end to the rollercoaster of dieting and bingeing once and for all.
* Includes a foreword by the authors of the bestseller Overcoming Overeating
* "Normandi and Roark are like patient coaches detaching women from their obsessions with food, deprogramming societal and family messages about acceptable weight, offering tools and excercises to transform destructive behaviors into opportunities for self-reflection."--San Jose Mercury News
"It's Not About Food is an important part of the growing movement to return women's bodies to their rightful owners." --Naomi Wolf, author of "The Beauty Myth"

This volume brings together behavioral, medical, and public health approaches and provides the knowledge necessary for a wide range of practitioners to effectively address the current obesity epidemic among children and adolescents. The book addresses several themes in pediatric and adolescent obesity. Experts in the field discuss the prevalence, etiology, and sequelae of pediatric and adolescent obesity, as well as the medical and behavioral assessment of the overweight child, adolescent, and family. The book offers a comprehensive understanding of the wide range of approaches to pediatric and adolescent obesity treatment, in order to promote an individualized approach that will best fit the patient and family.

Recent decades have seen a rise in the prevalence of eating disorders, especially among emerging adult women. The aetiology and development of these disorders involve numerous biological, psychological, and familial factors that extend beyond adolescence into emerging adulthood. This book provides leading research in this particular field.

The answers you need to help your child survive an eating disorder You've noticed a change in your child's eating habits and want to help, but you don't know what to say. Perhaps you're not sure if your child has an eating disorder or is at risk of developing one, and you don't know what to do. Written by experts in the field, Unlocking the Mysteries of Eating Disorders will guide you through this difficult situation and empower you and your family to make the right decisions. Throughout the book, stories of parents and children will help you understand the process and give you hope as you travel the road to health with your son or daughter. Learn how to: Spot the warning signs of an eating disorderFind the treatment options that are right for your childSupport your son or daughter through recovery and prevent relapses

Anorexia Nervosa and other eating disorders are arguably the most complex mental health problems that a child or adolescent may experience. Numbers seeking help are on the increase, and the complexity of these disorders challenges even the most experienced clinician. In this timely book, the experience of numerous practitioners with international reputations in the field is brought to bear on the broad range of issues a good clinician needs to know about, including the history of the disorder through to treatment, psychopharmacology, the psychotherapies, epidemiology, comorbidities, eating disorders in boys and neuroimaging. The book is divided into parts detailing the scientific underpinnings, abnormal states, the evidence base for treatments and finally public health issues, including service delivery models and perspectives on prognosis and outcomes. Clinicians encountering eating disorders will find this latest addition to the Cambridge Child and Adolescent Psychiatry series invaluable.

Physical activity appears to be one of the behaviours of patients with anorexia nervosa that may worsen over time and contributes to maintaining the dieting disorder. Seasonal variation in physical activity has been demonstrated. The current thesis therefore addresses three main questions: a) do Australian and German female students perceive seasonal variation in physical activity in a similar manner b) does physical activity vary across the seasons in female patients with anorexia nervosa compared to healthy female controls and c) what assessment and treatment strategies are implemented by clinical specialists? In summary, seasonal variation in physical activity was reported by Australian and German students. Further, it was demonstrated that time spent in some components of physical activity (moderate intensity activities and exercise) varied across the seasons in the patient-group. Comprehensive assessment tools and published exercise programmes were rarely used by the clinical specialists, indicating the need to extend treatment guidelines to include physical activity and its seasonal variation.

In 1988, an exciting and important new program was launched at the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Through the generosity of the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation, a lecture series was established to bring to greater attention some of the critical health policy issues facing our nation today. Each year a subject of particular relevance is addressed through three lectures presented by experts in the field. The lectures are published at a later date for national dissemination. The Rosenthal lectures have attracted an enthusiastic following among health policy researchers and decision makers, both in Washington, D.C., and across the country. Our speakers are the leading experts on the subjects under discussion and our audience includes many of the major policymakers charged with making the U.S. health care system more effective and humane. The lectures and associated remarks have engendered lively and productive dialogue. The Richard and Hinda Rosenthalk Lectures 2004: Perspectives on the Prevention of Childhood Obesity in Children and Youth captures a panel discussion on the IOM report, Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance. There is much to learn from the informed and real-world perspectives provided by the contributors to this book. Table of Contents Front Matter Welcome Overview of Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance Framework for Prevention and Perspectives on Addressing Health Disparities Industry Perspective Government Perspective Discussion Biosketches

The abundance of food in the developed countries of the world has seemingly spawned an epidemic of disorders connected to the food. Extremes such as intensive concern about one's body image and total disregard for it have resulted in countries which contain enormous segments of the population who are either obese and proud of it or bordering on anorexia nervosa. This new book gathers state-of-the-art research from leading scientists throughout the world which offers important information on understanding the underlying causes and discovering the most effective treatments for eating disorders.

A must for parents, teachers and counselors, this book targets preadolescent girls aiming to engage them in educational activites that will empower them to avoid eating disorders. The author examines eating disorders from sociocultural and feminist perspectives showing how disorders are most often caused by overexposure to media messages, an unrealistic cultural fascination with thinness, by continuous anaylsis of our bodies and a disordered cultural view of food. Then Menassa presents a 10-session guide to prevention that engages girls in activities to spur and empower their independent thinking and reasoning. For example, girls become watchdogs of the media and write to companies that present women in a negative light in their advertisements. The girls challenge ingrained beliefs and replace them with healthier ones. Preadolescence is a time when girls' minds are malleable and they are willing to challenge established activities, such as media presentations. Once girls hit puberty, many will have already developed disordered eating behaviors; many will have been on several diets; therefore, beginning the work to decode and combat harmful messages before that stage is crucial.

This is a book that will be useful to carers, helping them understand the issues that affect male suffers and some of the barriers they will have to break down in order to recover. It will also reassure men affected by an eating disorder that they are not alone, their problems are understood b medical professional and that recovery is possible' - "Signpost

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Anna has established herself as a leading author in the field of eating disorders and combines her personal experiences with an extensive research interest. Her two previous books published by Lucky Duck were winner and special commendation in the NASEN/TES book awards and we expect this publication to be equally well received.

It would be a mistake to think that eating and body image problems are experienced only by women. Anna draws the readers attention to the characteristic and special difficulties for men, including:

" athletics, body building and eating

" depression and self-esteem

" eating disorders and homosexuality.

Like all her books she offers a comprehensive overview and contributes information, advice and hope. This is a book for those affected and those who want to help them.

Ayelet spent six years of her adolescence in and out of hospital, having been diagnosed as suffering from a severe anorexia disorder. She is now a special needs teacher. In the first part of this book Ayelet describes her personal experiences of the illness, the repeated hospitalisations and her ultimate recovery, illustrated with examples of her drawing and writing from when she was ill. Tammie Ronen, her therapist, outlines the step-by-step progress of the therapy from the professional angle, describing in detail the decision-making and treatment considerations specific to Ayelet's life and context. She also includes comprehensive overviews of contemporary research into anorexia and of cognitive constructivist methods. This interweaving of theory, practice and personal experience offers the reader unique insight into the reality of the illness and demonstrates the effectiveness of integrative and creative methods, and the central importance of a good relationship between the client and the therapist. The book is a rich source of inspiration and guidance for therapists and other professionals, as well as for people with eating disorders and their families.

`This brief and powerful book has very important things to say to a wider audience; to health care professionals, to therapists, and also to social scientists who deal with questions of femininity, the body, and poststructuralism' - Journal of Health Psychology

`A readable book that contains simplified information of some complicated concepts. It will prove of benefit to those readers in the field of women and social studies' - European Eating Disorders Review

The concepts presented in this book are carefully argued, succinctly organized, and genuinely stimulating.... It provokes clinicians to think about treatment and the effect of diagnostic practices, it provokes researchers to ask different questions, and it provokes students to read beyond dominant and conventional texts. This is a timely and important publication that deserves to feature prominently in the ongoing study of anorexia nervosa' - Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology

`This book is intelligent, well-written and thought provoking addition to current literature on eating disorders' - Feminism and Psychology

In this wide-ranging book, Julie Hepworth casts a critical light on our contemporary understanding of anorexia nervosa. She locates contemporary discourses of anorexia nervosa within their historical context, showing how current practices continue to be influenced by medicine, psychology, ideology and politics. She argues that anorexia nervosa must be considered within the political, social and gendered relationships that continue to contribute to its definition. The book demonstrates the need for a new conceptualization of anorexia nervosa which would draw on the insights of discourse theory, feminism and postmodernism to create new understandings of anorexia nervosa within contemporary health care practices.

The treatment of eating disorders remains controversial, protracted, and often unsuccessful. Therapists face a number of impediments to the optimal care fo their patients, from transference to difficulties in dealing with the patient's family.

Treating Eating Disorders addresses the pressure and responsibility faced by practicing therapists in the treatment of eating disorders. Legal, ethical, and interpersonal issues involving compulsory treatment, food refusal and forced feeding, managed care, treatment facilities, terminal care, and how the gender of the therapist affects treatment figure centrally in this invaluable navigational guide.

A painful, powerful, and ultimately enriching account of what it feels like to be young, confused, and controlled by food.

Adolescence is a time full of pitfalls for teenage girls. Many escape relatively unscathed; some -- unable to cope successfully with the pressures exerted by family, school, and the media -- develop eating disorders. Marianne Apostolides was one of those girls. She became anorexic at the age of fourteen and struggled for the next ten years with anorexia, binge eating, and bulimia.

In this courageous work, Apostolides recreates the years in which she felt she could control her life only by controlling her diet. Insecure, unable to communicate with her parents, and driven to achieve at school, she initially found relief in the structure of calorie-counting and schedules. When the constant dieting became too much for her body to handle, she began to binge, and then to binge and purge. Her world defined by food, Apostolides would battle throughout high school, college, and adulthood to confront the deeper issues that compelled her to hurt herself again and again.

This is a book about a young woman who did not know how to cope with her feelings, and who, through therapy, was able to find the road to recovery at last. Absorbing and honest, hers is an important story of anguish, frustration, and, ultimately, triumph.

This important work illuminates the relationship between the anguish of eating disorder sufferers and the problems of ordinary women. It covers a wide variety of issues from ways in which gender may predispose women to eating disorders to the widespread cultural concerns these problems symbolize. Chapters all share three basic elements: The psychology of women is reflected in the concepts and methods described; there is an explicit commitment to political and social equality for women; and therapy is reevaluated based on an understanding of the needs of women patients and the potentially differing contributions of male and female therapists.

Although eating problems--ranging from body dissatisfaction and dieting to anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa--can begin and typically have their roots in childhood, theory and research in developmental psychopathology and developmental psychology have not received substantial attention in eating disorders research. This book provides crucial background material from both fields, and then makes direct applications to numerous aspects of the field of eating disorders including theory, research, treatment, and primary prevention.
This book was born out of a transaction between frustration and optimism. The frustrations reflected the limitations of current knowledge about eating problems and disorders. Etiological "causes" which are sensitive and specific to eating disorders have been elusive. Although there is some understanding of risk factors, little is known about protective factors. This has made prevention, among other things, difficult. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying the association between risk factors and disordered eating are poorly understood. For example, it is known that women are at greater risk than men are, but clinicians are hard- pressed to get beyond gender-based speculations and demonstrate why this is true.
The optimism grows from familiarity with the field of developmental psychopathology. It seems evident that this approach has much to offer the field of eating disorders. This book is an early step in the integration of developmental psychopathology into theorizing, research, treatment, and prevention of eating disorders. It addresses four specific goals:
* to introduce the principles and methodologies of developmental psychopathology,
* to review the work of developmental psychologists in several major areas of behavior relevant to understanding the causes, treatment, and prevention of eating disorders,
* to apply developmental psychopathology principles to the area of eating disorders, both in the form of theoretical models and in specific areas/issues raised by developmental psychopathology, and
* to discuss the implications of developmental approaches for prevention programs and treatments.