Eating Disorders Sourcebook, 6th Ed.

Eating disorders are one of the major mental illnesses that influence eating behaviors with unwarranted ideas about food, resulting in disorders such as binge eating, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa. The causes of the disorder are heavily influenced by genetic, personality, social, cultural, psychological, behavioral, and biological factors. Eating disorders can manifest themselves at any age and affect people of all races, sexes, and ethnicities, the most affected being the youth and adolescents. Both genders are equally vulnerable, and it is estimated that approximately 10 million males and 20 million females in the United States have an eating disorder. Extreme dissatisfaction with one’s appearance, combined with intense concern and preoccupation with gaining weight, results in a deceptive mental disturbance that leads to eating disorders. Eating disorders can also be inherited, along with other mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. A history of physical, emotional, or sexual traumas can sometimes heavily influence eating disorders. Early intervention and appropriate treatment have been shown to reverse the progression of the disorder and prevent deaths.

Eating Disorders Sourcebook, Sixth Edition provides updated information on the fundamentals of eating disorders. It addresses the risk factors for eating disorders, such as genetic, environmental, and media influences. It gives great detail about how the internet promotes a negative self-image. It explains how eating disorders can lead to disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and self-injury disorders. It discusses the different signs and symptoms of eating disorders, the various causes, and the diagnostic screening tests used to determine the best treatment approaches. It also contains information about the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on eating disorders. It discusses overcoming negative thoughts and how mindfulness, such as body awareness and yoga, can help with recovery. There is also adequate information about insurance coverage for eating disorders. It further addresses the challenges of preventing eating disorders by promoting and building positive self-esteem, cautioning against miracle weight loss products, revealing the truth behind weight loss advertisements, and emphasizing the significance of healthy social media habits. The book concludes with a glossary of terms related to eating disorders and a list of resources for additional assistance and information.

Part I: What Are Eating Disorders? talks about the overview of eating disorders and their facts and myths. It further talks about emotional eating and the difference between eating disorders and disordered eating. It describes various disorders related to obesity, binge eating, anorexia, and bulimia. It clearly explains the ramifications of avoidant and restrictive food intake disorder. It details the effects of diet pills and laxative abuse. It further explains other eating disorders, such as orthorexia pica, rumination, and nocturnal sleep-related disorders. The part concludes with a detailed depiction of body dysmorphic disorder and compulsive exercise.

Part II: Eating Disorders: Prevalence and Burden provides basic information about various eating disorders young adults and adolescents have and explains the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating disorders. It also deals with eating disorders affecting athletes and gender-diverse individuals. It vividly addresses eating disorders in the military. Identifying and understanding the causes of eating disorders with their genetic implications are discussed in detail. This part wraps up with a discussion about the role of the brain’s reward response process, congenital leptin deficiency, and obesity.

Part III: Understanding Risk Factors for Eating Disorders offers detailed information about factors that increase the risk for eating disorders, including genetic, environmental, and media influences. It explains in detail the impact of the internet, promoting negative self-image ideas that might lead to comorbid and co-occurring conditions. It further delineates the various effects of the eating disorder leading to conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and disorders leading to self-injuries such as trichotillomania. The part ends with implications of alcohol and substance abuse and diabetes.

Part IV: Medical Complications of Eating Disorders explains the overview of medical symptoms and complications of eating disorders such as binge eating and bulimia. A detailed explanation is given of pregnancy complications arising out of eating disorders. It also explains the compromised oral health resulting from an eating disorder. The relationship between anorexia nervosa and osteoporosis is clearly depicted in this part.

Part V: Recognizing and Treating Eating Disorders starts with describing the physiological approach of a loved one with a suspected eating disorder, including a guide to teachers. It deals with various diagnostic criteria and distinct screening tests to determine the right type of treatment, including bariatric surgery, complementary and alternative treatment types such as emotion-based psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, focusing on the level of care. It also talks about nutritional support being the key component of eating disorders treatment. Individual sections discuss overcoming negative thoughts and mindfulness that can positively impact recovery, including body awareness and yoga. The part concludes with extensive information on insurance coverage for treating eating disorders.

Part VI: Preventing Eating Disorders and Achieving a Healthy Weight addresses the challenges of preventing eating disorders by promoting and building positive self-esteem. The part also explains the parental and peer factors associated with body image. It defines overweight, discusses signs of being underweight, and discusses healthy weight loss and healthy eating guidelines focusing on portion sizes. It warns against miracle weight loss products, revealing the truth behind weight loss advertisements and the importance of healthy social media habits, and provides information on how to read food labels and the importance of family meals. It further furnishes details on eating out healthily and the benefits of physical activity and exercise for good bone health, especially for women. The chapter ends with practical advice on coping with food-related challenges during holidays.

Part VII: Additional Help and Information includes a glossary of terms related to eating disorders and a directory of resources offering additional help and support.