Reference
- Anorexia NervosaAnorexia nervosa, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV), has four criteria. First, the individual must refuse to maintain a weight within a normal range for height and age, meaning more than 15 percent below ideal body weight. Second, the person experiences a fear of weight gain. Third, there is a severe body image disturbance, and the determination of self-worth is measured based on body image without acknowledgment of the severity of the illness. Last, in women who have begun to menstruate, amenorrhea, or the absence of three or more menstrual cycles, is part of the diagnostic criteria. Within this definition, there are two subtypes: a restricting type and a binge eating/purging type. The restricting subtype maintains a low body weight by restricting caloric intake. The binge/purge subtype will either binge (large intake of calories) or purge (using vomiting and/or laxatives to remove calories) to control their weight. The diagnosis of anorexia is still appropriate with the binge/purge subtype because there is still a body weight at 15 percent less than ideal body weight.
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
This link opens in a new window
This link opens in a new window
Credo Reference is an easy-to-use tool for starting research. Gather background information on your topic from hundreds of full-text encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, quotations, and subject-specific titles, as well as 500,000+ images and audio files and over 1,000 videos.
Anorexia: What Therapists and Parents Need to Know
- Kanopy This link opens in a new window
Resources on eating disorders—particularly anorexia nervosa—are hardly in short supply among mental health practitioners, but options dwindle when it comes to family-based approaches, as much of the literature focuses on individual treatment. This illuminating video offers a rare take on the challenges of treating anorexia, from the perspective of parents. Here, not only will you watch parents discuss their feelings about their adolescents’ descent into the illness, but you’ll also see them engage in the strategies, activities, and ultimately, successes of a systems approach to anorexia treatment, Family-Based Therapy (FBT).
Articles
- Intensity of family dysfunction is associated with severity of adolescent anorexia nervosa.Objectives. To identify the presence of distinct family profiles in anorexia nervosa and to assess the association between the severity of the families' dysfunction and the severity of the adolescents' clinical profiles. Methods. One hundred and eighty-one adolescents (12–18 years old) with anorexia nervosa were recruited in specialized eating disorder programmes and filled out validated questionnaires...
- Narrative Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa: Using Documents of Resistance.Treating anorexia nervosa is one of the greatest challenges faced by current health policies. This paper reflects on the social and cultural aspects of this type of eating disorder and proposes an intervention approach based on narrative therapy as a complement to existing treatments. This type of therapy requires a holistic and coordinated vision of the socio‐cultural and community aspects that surround both the person dealing with anorexia and their closest social circle of friends and family. The effects of anorexia, when it becomes the dominant voice in a person's narrative, need to be understood within a broader and more inclusive social context without putting all the responsibility on the person who is being bullied by anorexia...
- Starving for Support: How Women With Anorexia Receive 'Thinspiration' on the Internet.This article provides the definition of anorexia, prevalence of the disorder, and treatment prognosis. Further, although the Internet provides many helpful resources for identifying problematic eating behavior and resources for persons suffering with eating disorders, Web sites exist that are meant to encourage, promote, and sustain anorexic behavior. This article elucidates the harmful practices fostered by 'thinspiration' Web sites and provides practical treatment implications inclusive of a relational-cultural framework for mental health professionals working with clients suffering from anorexia who use these sites.
- Young Women's Experience of Anorexia, Family Dynamics and Triangulation.The study explored the experience of triadic family relationships of six young women with a diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa alongside a consideration of their attachment strategies. The research methods employed semi-structured individual interviews, a family sculpt and use of an adapted version of the Adolescent Separation Anxiety Test (SAT). This adaptation featured a unique development for this study of photographs depicting triadic family separation and conflict situations. These attempted to offer an integrated view of their experience of anorexia and of family relationships alongside a consideration of the attachment strategies evoked. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to generate themes that captured the young women's experience, and a modified version of the SAT protocol coding was used to explore attachment strategies.
Perspectives
More Than a Body
"An indispensable resource for women of all ages, this is a guide to help us better connect to ourselves, to value ourselves, to love ourselves, and ultimately, to be ourselves." --Chelsea Clinton Positive body image isn't believing your body looks good; it is knowing your body is good, regardless of how it looks. How do you feel about your body Have you ever stayed home from a social activity or other opportunity because of concern about how you looked Have you ever passed judgment on someone because of how they looked or dressed Have you ever had difficulty concentrating on a task because you were self-conscious about your appearance Our beauty-obsessed world perpetuates the idea that happiness, health, and ability to be loved are dependent on how we look, but authors Lindsay and Lexie Kite offer an alternative vision. With insights drawn from their extensive body image research, Lindsay and Lexie--PhDs and founders of the nonprofit Beauty Redefined (and also twin sisters!)--lay out an action plan that arms you with the skills you need to reconnect with your whole self and free yourself from the constraints of self-objectification. From media consumption to health and fitness to self-reflection and self-compassion, Lindsay and Lexie share powerful and practical advice that goes beyond "body positivity" to help readers develop body image resilience--all while cutting through the empty promises sold by media, advertisers, and the beauty and weight-loss industries. In the process, they show how facing your feelings of body shame or embarrassment can become a catalyst for personal growth.
Hungry
A unique eating-disorder memoir written by a mother and daughter. Unbeknownst to food critic Sheila Himmel-as she reviewed exotic cuisines from bistro to brasserie- her daughter, Lisa, was at home starving herself. Before Sheila fully grasped what was happening, her fourteen-year-old with a thirst for life and a palate for the flavors of Vietnam and Afghanistan was replaced by a weight-obsessed, antisocial, hundredpound nineteen-year-old. From anorexia to bulimia and back again-many times-the Himmels feared for Lisa's life as her disorder took its toll on her physical and emotional well-being. Hungry is the first memoir to connect eating disorders with a food-obsessed culture in a very personal way, following the stumbles, the heartbreaks, and even the funny moments as a mother-daughter relationship-and an entire family-struggles toward healing.
Demystifying Anorexia Nervosa
Emotionally and physically devastating, anorexia nervosa is the third most common chronic illness in teenage girls, striking one in every two hundred (boys only make up 10% of all cases). And while there are many books on the subject, most are either personal accounts of recovery or attemptsto explain the disease from only one perspective, be it psychoanalytic, behavioral, cultural, or biological.Now, in this much-needed resource, Dr. Alexander Lucas draws on 40 years of experience mostly at the Mayo Clinic to offer clear guidance and authoritative advice on how to overcome anorexia nervosa. Based on his own unique research with thousands of patients, and striking a careful balancebetween psychological, cultural, and biological approaches, Dr. Lucas demystifies this seemingly irrational disease and guides parents through the harrowing process of recovery. The book defines anorexia, illustrates how it can evolve and how common it really is, and outlines every part of thetreatment process, from the early warning signs that parents should watch out for, to the initial evaluation, to specific treatment plans. Dr. Lucas emphasizes the patient's role in defining the healing process, with the support of the family and medical team. Throughout the book, he counselsoptimism, stressing that in spite of the destructive power of the disease, most who suffer from anorexia nervosa fully recover and are able to live normal, healthy, and productive lives. In his new Introduction, Dr. Lucas stresses the need for controlled studies of treatment in anorexia nervosa,and reiterates the hard truth that anorexia will always be a complex disorder that takes time and patience to overcome. For anyone seeking level-headed, medically sound, and comprehensive guidance on the most effective treatments for this life-threatening disorder, Demystifying Anorexia Nervosa offers a wealth of reliable, reassuring information
Gaining
In 1979, Liu penned the groundbreaking memoir Solitaire, in which she described her battle with anorexia. Now, three decades later, Liu shares her story and those of her peers who are still struggling to understand the role anorexia and bulimia have played in their lives.
Anorexia and Bulimia
"Anorexia, bulimia signal a troubled body and soul" cried a headline in USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper. These serious eating disorders plague people of all ages, but mostly adolescent girls. Untreated, anorexia and bulimia can be life-threatening. Even when the diseases are diagnosed and treated, the road to recovery is difficult and sometimes lasts a lifetime. In the United States, as many as eleven million people suffer from eating disorders. In this book, you'll investigate the complex causes and devastating effects of anorexia and bulimia. Case studies let you follow the progression of these disorders in individuals from their first purging episode, through the pain of hiding the affliction from loved ones, to the eventual realization that they are suffering from a disorder and need help. You'll also find detailed information on treatment options and support organizations. This book helps you better understand the severity of these disorders and gives you the tools necessary to help yourself or loved ones who need your support.
Anorexia
- Films on Demand This link opens in a new window
Anorexia is an eating disorder that can ruin lives, and even kill. Usually it affects women, but cases of men with anorexia are more prevalent than some may think.