Afraid to Eat

VOYA - Kate O'Dell Madison

Books discussing eating disorders are a perennial high-interest topic for young adults and seem to fly off the shelf regardless of quality. Two new, informative titles add significant and different viewpoints to this topic. Aimed at preteens and their parents, Food Fight serves as a fantastic discussion tool. This work will help those readers already suffering from eating disorders, those entering adolescence who wish to avoid the problem, those with a friend experiencing an eating disorder, and parents who want to learn more. Several first-person interviews reveal the anger and self-loathing that people with eating disorders often experience. Divided into three main sections, Food Fight addresses young readers and their concerns, addresses parents directly, and shares further reading and resources with both audiences. The book also includes factual information of use to older teens interested in the cause and effect of eating disorders. Bode consulted an impressive list of professionals, and the resources provided are inclusive to the field. Public libraries might want to consider purchasing two copies: one for the youth section and one for the adult section. Afraid to Eat addresses the topic of eating disorders from a societal viewpoint, looking at how society shapes children's and teen's perceptions of weight and image. This title features a sophisticated discussion of the topic and includes statistics and scholarly studies. Berg looks more closely at the causes of eating disorders and the stereotyping and prejudice that overweight people face. She also puts forth ideas for families and schools to battle this cultural/physical/psychological problem. Afraid to Eat provides useful reference material for teens, parents, educators, and health professionals. It will not be devoured as readily as the reader-friendly Food Fight. Still, consider ordering multiple copies. Index. Charts. Biblio. Source Notes. Further Reading. Note: This review was written and published to address two titles: Afraid to Eat: Children and Teens in Weight Crisis and Food Fight: A Guide to Eating Disorders for Pre-Teens and Their Parents. VOYA Codes: 5Q 3P M J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written, Will appeal with pushing, Middle School-defined as grades 6 to 8, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9 and Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).

Library Journal

Though easy to trivialize, weight loss and excessive exercise can cause significant health problems, and treatment has ballooned into a major industry. Costin, a therapist and former victim of an eating disorder, focuses on the most pathological problems: anorexia and bulimia nervosa and binge eating. Though she analyzes their social milieu, offering a statement of "Thin Commandments," this is primarily a how-to-cope guide for family members of the afflicted. Topics include symptoms, underlying psychological causes, separate preventative advice for parents, and a useful evaluation of today's most popular weight-loss programs and principles. The kind of concrete examples and practical guidance that may accompany professional therapy are provided in a supportive manner. Berg's work is a more expansive and polemical book, addressing most aspects of America's weight "crisis." Berg, a nutritionist and editor/publisher of Healthy Weight Journal, serves up a feast of facts on four major problems: dysfunctional eating, eating disorders, size prejudice, and remedies for the overweight. Condemning "diets," she instead proposes a wellness paradigm based on the Canadian "vitality" model, which calls for moderation in eating habits and an active, playful lifestyle. The book contains advice for parents but emphasizes that social change is needed in schools, organized sports, and federal policies that focus too narrowly on antiobesity. Unlike other books on this topic, the unique problems of boys and minority children are also explored. Though sometimes superficial and alarmist in tone, Berg's book is a valuable consciousness raiser. Both books are recommended for public libraries for both parents and concerned professionals needing inspiration.Antoinette Brinkman, Southwest Indiana Mental Health Ctr. Lib., Evansville