Bulimia Nervosa and Binge-Eating

Book excerpt: Bulima Nervosa affects one in twenty women in the West. Concern about their shape and weight can drive these women to such measures as prolonged fasting, excessive exercise, self-induced vomiting, and the taking of unnecessary laxatives. While the majority of books written about bulimia merely address the social and political realities that lead women to binge-eating, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge-Eating takes a strongly proactive approach, offering both a description of the disorder and a six-step plan for recovery. This book is an indispensable guide for sufferers, their friends and families, those in counseling professions, and anyone seeking a better understanding of this disorder. Providing a description of the disturbances in eating habits and the psychological and social problems that indicate or result in bulimia, as well as information on possible medical complications and treatments available, this book will be useful for those seeking to understand what either they themselves or someone close to them is experiencing. Most important, the author has devised a highly successful self-help guide for those who want to tackle their difficulties on their own, offering a step-by-step program to recovery. This plan has been used successfully for several years and has been revised and improved based on feedback from people who have employed its methods.