Too Fat or Too Thin? A Reference Guide to Eating Disorders

The deluge of information regarding eating disorders can be mystifying and misleading. It is often difficult knowing where to begin and who to trust. This practical resource guide for professionals, students, as well as parents, dispels the myths surrounding eating disorders by providing factual and historical information on how our understanding of these problems has evolved. In addition to chapters on anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, compulsive overeating, and other disorders, this volume also discusses eating disturbances. These are defined as problems associated with eating and body image but which are not severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of any specific eating disorder. The book makes use of numerous case studies and contains the most current research to describe and explain symptoms, dangers, and current theories about what causes such disorders. Colleges will find that the medical and psychological issues are thoroughly discussed in a manner accessible for students of all levels. Numerous psychological therapies and other forms of treatment are described, providing each treatment s history and effectiveness. Additional material focuses on the prevention of eating problems, the relationship between image disturbances and popular culture, and controversies in the field of diagnosis and treatment.