Food and Nutrition Information Center
National Agricultural Library/USDA
10301 Baltimore Avenue, Room 304
Beltsville, MD 20705-2351
Eating Disorders: a Food and Nutrition Resource List for Consumers
July 2001
This publication is a compilation of resources on eating disorders for the consumer. The materials on this list were recommended by eating disorder professionals or found on suggested reading lists of prominent organizations. Materials cannot be purchas ed from the Library. Please contact the publisher/producer if you wish to purchase any materials on this list.
Each item has been placed in one or more of the following categories, alphabetically by title.
The categories are:
Breaking the Diet Habit: the Natural Weight Alternative
Janet Polivy, C.Peter Herman.
New York: Basic Books, c1983. 232 pp.
Summary: One of the early seminal works on eating disorders. Discusses the idea of genetic set point and the non-diet approach. Title is currently out of print, but may be available in your local library.
Dying to be Thin
Ira M. Sacker and Marc A. Zimmer
New York, NY: Warner Books, c1987 (updated 1995). 259 pp.
Summary: Good Information on the development and treatment of eating disorders.
Eating Disorders: Everything You Need to Know
Jim Kirkpatrick and Paul Caldwell
Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books, 2001. 195 pp.
Summary: Excellent consumer level resource on eating disorders that discusses various forms of the disorder and their histories, complicating factors of eating disorders, and issues of therapy and recovery.
The Eating Disorder Sourcebook: A Comprehensive Guide to the Causes, Treatments, and Prevention of Eating Disorders
Chapters 1-6, pp. 1-76.
Chapter 13, pp. 191-212.
Chapter 17, pp. 275-282.
Carolyn Costin
Los Angeles, CA: Lowell House, 1999.
Summary: Chapters 1-6 give a good general overview of the history and diagnostic criteria of eating disorders. Chapter 13 discusses the role of Nutrition Education and nutrition therapy in the management of an eating disorder. Chapter 17 suggest
s ways to increase awareness and prevent eating disorders.
Helping Athletes with Eating Disorders – Chapters 4-7
Ron A. Thompson and Roberta Trattner Sherman
Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers, 1993. pp. 67-172.
Summary: Chapters 4-7 cover athletes with eating disorders, managing those athletes (including sports issues) and education/prevention. The book also discusses the incidences and types of eating disorders found in males.
Intuitive Eating: A Recovery Book for the Chronic Dieter:
Rediscover the Pleasures of Eating and Rebuild Your Body Image
Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch.
New York: St. Martin's Press, 1995. 237 pp.
Summary: This book focuses on substituting intuitive (demand)
eating for dieting. It asks the reader to: reject the diet mentality, focus on eating when you are hungry, exercise, respect your body and understand what can be changed and what cannot
, while defining healthy eating and portion size.
Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls
Chapter 9: "Worshiping the gods of thinness."
Mary Pipher
New York, NY: Ballentine Books, 1994.
Summary: None available
Surviving an Eating Disorder: New Perspectives and Strategies for Family and Friends
Michele Siegel, Judith Brisman, Margot Weinshel.
New York, NY: Harper & Row, c1988. (Updated 1997). 212 pp.
Summary: Deals with psychological issues, family relationships, and what to do if you or family members have an eating disorder.
Women Afraid to Eat : Breaking Free in Today's Weight-Obsessed World
Frances M. Berg; Kendra Rosencrans, editor
Hettinger, ND: Healthy Weight Network, c2001. 380 pp.
Summary: Provides a good overview of Eating Disorders from a female perspective.
The book deals with weight obsession and the resulting "dysfunctional eating."
Topics included are: eating disorders, the consequences of weight loss and dieting, and the effects of starvation. Part II focuses on healthy eating, healthy body image and self esteem issues. Excellent appendix and bibliographic references.
"Diary of an eating disorder."
Laurie Tarkan
Shape, November 1998: 116(7).
"Eating Disorders and Diabetes."
Diabetes Forecast, April 1997.
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetesforecast/97apr/pg26.htm
"Exposing the perils of eating disorders."
Jane E. Brody
New York Times, 12 December 2000: F8.
"Immigrant girls are starving to be American studies find."
Emily Wax
Washington Post, 6 March 2000: B01.
"Little girls who won’t eat: the alarming new epidemic of eating disorders."
Judith Newman
Redbook, October 1997: 120-127.
"Obsessed fear and loathing of food."
Suzanne Schlosberg
Shape, March 1998: 100(5).
"Starve Wars (eating disorders)."
Nancy Clark
American Fitness, March 2001: 54.
Bulimia Nervosa:
http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/section15/chapter196/196b.htm
"A disorder characterized by recurrent (at least twice a week) episodes of binge eating during which the patient consumes large amounts of food and feels unable to stop eating, followed by inappropriate compensatory efforts to avoid weight gain, s
uch as self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse, vigorous exercise, or fasting."
Anorexia Nervosa: A Guide to Recovery
Lindsey Hall and Monika Ostroff
Carlsbad, CA: Gurze Books, 1998. 187 pp.
Summary: Book provides answers to frequently asked questions and provides information about support and therapy for families and those suffering from anorexia.
"Anorexia can strike boys,too."
Howard Markel
New York Times, July 25, 2000; F7 (Science Times Pages).
"Beautiful girls, ugly disease."
Cylin Busby
Teen Magazine, May 2001: 98.
"Dying to be thin- after 30."
Leslie Vreeland
Good Housekeeping, March 1998: 137-140.
"Real-life true story: bulimia almost killed me."
Sandy Fertman
Teen Magazine, January 1997: 32-35.
"My boyfriend had bulimia."
Stephanie Booth
Teen Magazine, September 1997: 94-96.
Compulsive Overeating (COE) - (Becky Chase, MS,RD)
Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionists
http://www.nutrifit.org/binge.html#coe
"Compulsive Overeating (COE) is not formally recognized as an eating disorder diagnosis. However, the term "compulsive overeating" is often used by professionals and their clients to describe a disordered eating pattern that includes repeated b
outs of over eating in response to emotional triggers and an obsession with food and weight. People with COE are not necessarily obese. Dieting is often part of this disorder and can lead to subsequent overeating, causing a dieting/overeating cycle th
at is repeated."
Binge Breaker! Stop Out-of- Control Eating and Lose Weight
Peter M. Miller
New York, NY: Warner Books, c1999. 275 pp.
Summary: Discusses a 6-step program that can help dieters conquer binge eating and lose
weight permanently.
Breaking Free from Compulsive Eating
Geneen Roth.
New York, NY : Macmillan, 1993. 216 pp.
Summary: Discusses the psychological background of eating disorders such as compulsive
eating and how to modify this behavior.
Overcoming Binge Eating
Christopher G. Fairburn.
New York, NY: Guilford Press, c1995. 246 pp.
Summary: Provides information to understand binge eating and bring it
under control. Contains a new self-help program based on the most effective strategies for
controlling these behaviors, and is designed to be used on its own or in conjunction with
therapy. Provides step-by-step guidance for overcoming the urge to binge; getting control of
eating behavior; establishing stable, healthy eating habits; and reducing the
risk of relapse.
Overcoming Overeating: Living Free in a World of Food
Jane R. Hirschmann and Carol H. Munter
Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Pub. Co., c.1988. 259 pp.
Summary: Book discusses the non-diet approach to overeating. It defines the problem and
focuses on acceptance and learning to choose foods based on hunger and without restrictions.
"How I quit dieting – and lost weight."
Francesca Kelly
Redbook, June 2000: 92.
"Could your ‘good’ diet be killing you?" (Othorexia)
Megan Fitzmorris
Cosmopolitan, July 1998: 116-119.
Summary: Article is on othorexia.
"When refrigerator raiders lose control."
Tom Zeller
New York Times, September 7, 1999: F8 (Science Times Pages).
Summary: Article is on night-time eating syndrome.
Afraid to Eat: Children and Teens in Weight Crisis
Frances M. Berg
Hettinger, ND: Healthy Weight Journal, c1997. 310 pp.
Summary: Book deals with dysfunctional eating, eating disorders, self-esteem issues and weight control. The author also looks at developing healthy eating habits, preventing eating disorders at home and at school and obesity prevention programs.
Am I Fat? : Helping Young Children Accept Differences in Body Size : Suggestions for Teachers, Parents, and Other Care Providers of Children to Age 10
Joanne Ikeda, Priscilla Naworski.
Santa Cruz, CA: ETR Associates, 1992. 117 pp.
Summary: Excellent book about self-esteem and body size in children.
The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls
Joan Jacob Brumberg
New York, NY: Random House. 267 pp.
Summary: Traces the changes in the way adolescence has changed over the past century and the impact this has had on the American culture and body image.
Girl Power in the Mirror: a Book About Girls, Their Bodies, and Themselves
Helen Cordes
Minneapolis, MN: Learner Publications, 2000. 80 pp.
Summary: A book written for young women that talks about what ways to improve self esteem and make peace with your body. The book focuses on the fact that people come in all shapes and sizes. It also deals with developing a healthy relationship w
ith food.
Intuitive Eating : a Recovery Book for the Chronic Dieter : Rediscover the Pleasures of Eating and Rebuild Your Body Image
Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch.
New York, NY: St. Martin's Press, 1995. 237 pp.
Summary: This book focuses on substituting intuitive (demand) eating for dieting. It asks the reader to: reject the diet mentality, focus on eating when you are hungry, exercise, respect your body and understand what can be changed and what cannot
, while defining healthy eating and portion size.
Self Esteem Comes in All Sizes: How to be Happy and Healthy at Your Natural Weight
Chapter 12: "So you still want to lose weight?"
Carol A. Johnson
New York, NY: Doubleday, 1995.
Summary: Chapter talks about the dangers of dieting, weight loss medications, and eating disorders. This chapter also details healthy lifestyles that will promote self esteem and enjoyment of food.
Women Afraid to Eat : Breaking Free in Today's Weight-Obsessed World
Frances M. Berg; edited by Kendra Rosencrans.
Hettinger, ND: Healthy Weight Network, c2001. 380 pp.
Summary: Provides a good overview of Eating Disorders from a female perspective.
The book deals with weight obsession and the resulting "dysfunctional eating."
Topics included are: eating disorders, the consequences of weight loss and dieting, and the effects of starvation. Part II focuses on healthy eating, healthy body image and self esteem issues. Excellent appendix and bibliographic references.
"Bodyworks; That’s not fit, that’s sick; Pursuit of the perfect body can take instructors—and their students—to unhealthy places"
Carol Krucoff
Washington Post, 5 September 2000: Z9 (Health Section)
"Everyday I would eat less and less (teenage boys and eating disorders)."
Laura Pappano
Good Housekeeping, August 2000: 116.
"A new body politic: learning to like the way we look."
Leslie Berger
New York Times, July 18, 2000: F7 (Science Times Pages).
"Raise a kid with a healthy body image."
Carol Weston
Redbook, April 1999: 153.
"Unraveling the Adonis Complex."
Harrison G. Pope Jr. MD
Psychiatric Times, March 2001: v. 17 n 3.
Summary: Article is on muscle dysmorphia and male eating disorders.
Body Talk: Teens Talk About Their Bodies
Gary Felder, Connie Sobczak
Berkeley, CA: Body Positive, c1999.
Videocassette (28 min.) (VHS)
Summary: Video shows teens (male and female) from diverse ethnic, body size and socio-economic backgrounds discussing the messages they receive form the media, family, and friends about their bodies and eating patterns. Focuses on their resulting
struggles, how they resist change and how they heal.
Afraid to Eat : Children and Teens in Weight Crisis
Frances M. Berg
Hettinger, ND: Healthy Weight Journal, c1997. 310 pp.
Summary: Book deals with dysfunctional eating, eating disorders, self-esteem issues and weight control. The author also looks at developing healthy eating habits, preventing eating disorders at home and at school and obesity prevention programs.
Am I Fat? : Helping Young Children Accept Differences in Body Size : Suggestions for Teachers, Parents, and Other Care Providers of Children to Age 10
Joanne Ikeda, Priscilla Naworski.
Santa Cruz, Calif. : ETR Associates, 1992. 117 pp.
Summary: Excellent book about self-esteem and body size in children
Food Fight: a Guide to Eating Disorders for Preteens and Their Parents.
Janet Bode.
New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1997. 154 pp.
Summary: None available
Helping Athletes with Eating Disorders – Chapters 4-7
Ron A. Thompson and Roberta Trattner Sherman
Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers, 1993. p. 67-172.
Summary: Book chapters cover athletes with eating disorders, managing those athletes (including sports issues) and education/prevention. The book also discusses the incidences and types of eating disorders found in males.
Preventing Childhood Eating Problems: A Practical, Positive Approach to Raising Children Free of Food and Weight Conflicts
Jane R. Hirschmann and Lela Zaphiropoulos.
Carlsbad, CA: Gurze Books, c1993. 160 pp.
Summary: Book focus is on demand based feeding for children of all ages, and explores families, food choices, and self image. It is divided into three sections that deal with demand feeding, food issues at various ages, and special problems with
eating – including eating disorders.
Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls
Chaper 9: "Worshiping the gods of thinness."
Mary Pipher
New York, NY: Ballentine Books, 1994.
Summary: None available
"Are you raising a child with an eating disorder?"
Janet Carlson Freed
Redbook, August 1999: 146.
"Dying to be thin (little girls trying to lose weight)."
Patricia Hittner
Better Homes and Gardens, August 1997: 84-87.
"Everyday I would eat less and less (teenage boys and eating disorders)."
Laura Pappano
Good Housekeeping, August 2000: 116.
"Little girls who won’t eat: the alarming new epidemic of eating disorders."
Judith Newman
Redbook, October 1997: 120-127.
"When weight loss goes awry: as more kids feel the pressure to be thin, dangerous eating disorders now are being diagnosed in children as young as 7."
Claudia Kalb
Newsweek, 3 July 2000: 46.
Body Talk: Teens Talk About Their Bodies
Gary Felder, Connie Sobczak
Berkeley, CA: Body Positive, c1999.
Videocassette (28 min.) (VHS)
Summary: Video shows teens (male and female) from diverse ethnic, body size and socio-economic backgrounds discussing the messages they receive form the media, family, and friends about their bodies and eating patterns. Focuses on their resulting
struggles, how they resist change and how they heal.
Dying to be Thin
NOVA/ Public Broadcasting System
Boston, MA: Science Unit at WGBH Boston, 2000.
VHS videocassette (1 hour)
Summary: Dying To Be Thin introduces you to students, ballet dancers, fashion models and leading eating disorder specialists in a dramatic, eye-opening look at two devastating diseases: anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
Watch program online http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/thin/program.html
Text version: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/thin/textindex.html
Eating Disorders
InVision Communications, Inc.; Jonathan Cohill and Arden Kass.
Bala Cynwyd, PA: Schlessinger Video Productions : LibraryVideo Company [distributor], c1994.
VHS videocassette (30 min.) + 1 teacher's guide
Summary: None provided.
Note: Program should be previewed prior to student/young adult viewing, and supervised by adult/educator during student viewing/young adult viewing.
National Institute of Mental Health
NIMH Public Inquiries
6001 Executive Boulevard, Rm. 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663 U.S.A.
Voice (301) 443-4513; Fax (301) 443-4279
American Anorexia Bulimia Association, Inc. (AABA)
165 West 46th Street, Suite 1108
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 575 – 6200
Web Site: http://www.aabainc.org/home.html
Summary: "The American Anorexia Bulimia Association is a national, non-profit organization of concerned members of the public and healthcare industry dedicated to the prevention and treatment of eating disorders."
Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention, Inc. (EDAP)
603 Stewart Street, Suite 803
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 382-3587 or (800) 931-2237 toll-free information and referral hotline
Fax: (206) 829-8501
Web Site: http://www.edap.org/
Summary: "EDAP is the nation's largest non-profit organization devoted to the awareness and prevention of eating disorders."
Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center
International Eating Disorder Referral Organization
2923 Sandy Pointe, Suite 6,
Del Mar, CA 92014-2052
Phone: 858-792-7463
Web Site: http://www.edreferral.com
Summary: "Edreferral.com provides information and treatment resources for all forms of eating disorders."
Food and Nutrition Information Center
10301 Baltimore Avenue
Beltsville, MD 20705-2351
Eating Disorders Web Site Topic Page: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/etext/000017
Girl Power! Facts about Eating Disorders
Web Page: http://www.girlpower.gov/girlarea/bodywise/eatingdisorders/index.htm
Summary: "Girl Power!, the national public education campaign sponsored by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services to help encourage and motivate 9- to 14- year-old girls to make the most of their lives."
Gurze Books
PO Box 2238
Carlsbad, CA 92018
Phone: (800) 756-7533
Fax: (760) 434-5476
Web Site: http://www.gurze.com/index.htm
Summary: "Specializing in eating disorders publications and education since 1980."
Harvard Eating Disorders Center
356 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 236-7766
Email: info@hedc.org
Web Site: http://www.hedc.org/
Summary: "Dedicated to expanding knowledge about eating disorders, their detection, treatment, and prevention - and promoting the healthy development of children, women, and all at risk."
Healthtouch Online
Web Site for Eating Disorder Information: http://www.healthtouch.com/bin/EContent_HT/SUB_HD.asp?goto_type=1x5-Grid&index=114136&t
itle=Eating+Disorders&cid=HT
Kids’ Health
Nemours Foundation Center for Children's Health
1600 Rockland Road
Wilmington , DE 19803
Phone: 302.651.4046
Fax: 302.651.4077
Email: info@KidsHealth.org
Web Site: http://kidshealth.org
Search Engine: http://kidshealth.org/Search01.jsp (enter Eating Disorders to retrieve articles).
Summary: "Employing approximately 350 pediatric subspecialty physicians at sites in Delaware and Florida, Nemours is dedicated to providing treatment and curative services to acutely and chronically ill children."
MEDLINEplus: Eating Disorders
National Institutes of Health / U.S. National Library of Medicine
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20894
Web Site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/eatingdisorders.html
Summary: "MEDLINEplus is a gold mine of up-to-date, quality health care information from
the world’s largest medical library, the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health."
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD)
PO Box 7
Highland Park IL 60035
Phone: 847-831-3438
Hotline: 847-831-3438
Fax: 847-433-4632
E-mail: info@anad.org
Web Site: http://www.anad.org/information.htm
Summary: "Founded in 1976, ANAD is the oldest national non-profit organization
helping eating disorder victims and their families."
The National Eating Disorder Information Centre
CW 1-211, 200 Elizabeth Street, M5G 2C4
Phone (416) 340-4156
Fax (416) 340-4736
Email: nedic@uhn.on.ca
Web Site: http://www.nedic.on.ca/default.html
Summary: "The National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) is a Toronto-based, non-profit organization, established in 1985 to provide information and resources on eating disorders and weight preoccupation."
Something Fishy
Web Site: http://www.something-fishy.org/sfwed/whoweare.php
Summary: The site includes information, chat venues, a bulletin board, and a treatment finder. The site has also been translated into French and Spanish.
Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionists (SCAN)
PO Box 4995
Buena Vista, CO 81211
Phone: (719) 395-9271
Fax: (719) 395-5615
Email: scan@nutrifit.org
Web Page on Eating Disorders: http://www.nutrifit.org/nuted.html
Summary: A practice group of the American Dietetic Association.
Appreciation is given to the following individuals for resource suggestions:
Deborah Kauffmann, RD LD (The Center for Eating Disorders)
Paula Goldberg, RN (The Center for Eating Disorders)
Elizabeth Hill, Dietetic Intern (Cleveland Clinic)
Acknowledgement is given to the following FNIC reviewers:
Anna Arrowsmith, RD
Jennifer MacAulay, MEd
This resource was compiled by
Lynne Sinder, RD LD Nutrition
Information Specialist.
***********************************************************************
Food and Nutrition Information Center
Agricultural Research Service, USDA
National Agricultural Library
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Phone: 301-504-5719
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TTY: 301-504-6856
Comments: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/fniccomments.html
Web site: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic
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