Eating disorders are potentially life-threatening psychiatric illnesses commonly accompanied by serious medical problems. They typically appear during adolescence or early adulthood, a time when young people are heading to college or interviewing for a first job. Many people recover fully from eating disorders, but others become chronically ill, and symptoms can continue into middle age and beyond. Written by leading authorities in eating disorders research and treatment, Eating Disorders: What Everyone Needs to Know answers common questions about eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, as well as a newly described condition, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Practical yet authoritative, the book defines the eating disorders, explains what we know about them based on the latest science, and describes how treatment works. Importantly, the book dispels common myths about eating disorders, such as the notion that they occur only amongst the affluent, that they affect only girls and women, or that they simply result from environmental factors such as the fashion industry and society's obsession with thinness. In reality, as the book explains, there is substantial evidence that eating disorders are brain-based illnesses that do not discriminate, and that they have been around for a very long time. Eating Disorders: What Everyone Needs to Know is essential reading for those seeking authoritative and current information about these often misunderstood illnesses.

If Your Adolescent Has an Eating Disorder is an authoritative guide to understanding and helping a teenager with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or other eating disorders. It is designed for parents of teens who have recently been diagnosed with an eating disorder, or who are at risk of developing one, and for other adults, such as teachers and guidance counselors, who are regularly in contact with at-risk adolescents. The book combines the latest science-including the newest treatments and most up-to-date research findings on eating disorders-with the practical wisdom of parents who have been in the trenches raising teens with eating disorders. Written in a clear and approachable style, Drs. B. Timothy Walsh and Deborah R. Glasofer explain exactly what eating disorders are and describe their characteristics, as well as signs and symptoms. They outline the right way to go about getting help if you suspect your child may have a problem, about when and where to get treatment, and about how to navigate the healthcare system. There is also advice on how to handle everyday life-both at home and at school-once your child is diagnosed, and on how to communicate with your teen and her or his siblings about issues related to the eating disorder. Complete with red flags to look out for, warnings on the dangers of doing nothing, and a comprehensive list of additional resources, this book will help parents and other adults face and deal effectively with adolescent eating disorders before they become life-threatening.