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Sunday, September 04, 2005

Just briefly-
I've been doing a lot of reading about eating disorders lately, and wanted to update my list of recommended reading on the subject. (Sorry if I can't remember authors names.)
1. Slim to None, by Jennifer Hendricks
This book is a compilation of journal entries written by a severely anorexic girl who eventually died from her disease. As her final wish, her father put this book together so other people could see her struggle and get help. It's a sad book, but really well written. I was a little frustrated reading it because it takes place in the 1970s, before eating disorders were widely recognized, and none of her doctors had any idea how to take care of her. Very insightful into the eating disorder psyche.
2. Life Size, by Jennifer Shute
Another hardcore anorexic, although the end is a little more hopeful. Also very well written and insightful, but this one ended up hitting a little too close to home for me and gave me a really bad panic attack. I'd recommend it to people who need more information about eating disorders, not people who have them.

Also, I watched "The Machinist" this last week, and thought the very subtle references to food rituals and effects of eds were really interesting. In one scene, the main character is eating chicken, and has a bottle of mustard sitting next to his plate (one very common food ritual, especially among anorectics, is eating mustard by the bowlful. Lots of flavor, no calories), and in another, as he's looking at himself in the mirror, he senses that someone is standing behind him, although there's actually no one there. I didn't know until recently that this is very common with anorectics, but it's happened to me before. It's a very intensely panicky feeling.
Oh, another book I started reading but haven't yet finished is Your Dieting Daughter.Very informative for anyone with preadolescent children; how to deal with body image issues and concerns.