Decoding Anorexia

Very good and informative book

It gives you the broad and the detailed view into Anorexia, a complex illness which needs more than several ways to be understood and tackled. This book and memoir gave me the understanding of the physical, psychological and emotional parts in a very simple way of putting things on the table. It’s a must read for anybody who has a relative or friend dealing with ED.

I'm a dietitian helping people with eating disorders for many years. I have recommended this book to several clients and each found it very helpful, especially in alleviating the guilt/shame/blame that accompany anorexia nervosa, both for the sufferer and their families. It contains the science, especially brain science, available at the time of printing. But what makes if effective as well are the many people with AN the author interviewed and cites, as well as her own experience. She is a science writer so the writing is clear and compelling, unlike many of the books written by therapists, etc.I am a part of a journal club with other dietitians and physicians. We used this book as a "book club" because we found it so useful. It's expensive for a soft cover, but the contents are well worth the price.

Great read. As a mother of a teenage daughter with a 3 year history of anorexia, this was the first book I've read that really gave me an insight as to what is actually going on in her brain and has helped me to understand the underlying thought patterns that perpetuate this awful condition. It has allowed me to be more understanding, more empathetic and better equipped to manage the day to day challenge of caring for an anorexia sufferer. And given me hope that even those with 'severe and enduring' anorexia can recover. Bravo Carrie.

"Mythbusters" have nothing on Carrie Arnold. She rips apart the myths surrounding eating disorders and shines the bright disinfecting light of science on them.For many years, psychologists have tried to explain eating disorders and why they happen. Dysfunctional families? Fashion industry? Fear of growing up? Distant fathers, controlling mothers? In spite of identifying all these supposed causes/underlying issues/etc, treatment is difficult, expensive and mostly ineffective.Move over, psychology. Enter neurology.It's not a rational thing. It's a neurological thing. Eating disorders are biological brain disorders, not a choice.Carrie Arnold does a brilliant job of weaving current scientific thinking about eating disorders with real-life examples to create a very readable but evidence-based book. It's the most comprehensive and the most scientifically-based book about eating disorders out there. This should be required reading for every professional treating EDs.

The delight of reading a serious science book, carefully and skillfully interwoven with Carrie's personal story, makes this so much more readable than the normal academic books on the subject. The role of new research and new science is clearly explained and the chapter on the brain is witty and informative. I can see it providing "light bulb" moments all over the world for patients, parents, carers and clinicians.It is sad that the professional world is so divided on this contentious subject, especially as anorexia is the most lethal psychiatric disorder of all time. Let's hope this beautifully researched and wonderfully written book will become a staple on the bookshelves of anyone who is affected by an eating disorder.Well done, Carrie Arnold.

Super helpful in understanding the true cognitive effects of Anorexia

I received this book on Friday and have already finished. I am not a scientist, but I am logical and detail oriented. The use of science and evidence based scientific studies, interwoven with Carrie's own story and those of other sufferers and care givers is so effective. As a mom of a sufferer, it gives me such hope. My daughter is also very scientifically minded and I will be giving this to her after finals are over to read. I am hopeful that the science will enable her to forgive herself for something that is not her fault.

Ein Buch voller Fachwissen und dennoch verständlich und interessant geschrieben. Zusammen mit zwei weiteren Büchern kann man wahrscheinlich mehr über die Krankheit und die Behandlungsmöglichkeiten lernen als es in vielen Therapiesitzungen der Fall ist. Es sollte eine Pflichtlektüre für Therapeuten werden.

This book was a huge relief to me. If you've ever been diagnosed with anorexia, you will probably relate to what Carrie says here and it might help to alleviate some of the guilt, too.I did not like how the author kept referring to a 'typical anorexia personality'. It's true that many people who have anorexia were anxious, perfectionistic children, but not all were, and so it seems unhelpful to focus so much on it.It was still a terribly good book, and that's the only gripe I have. Overall, I'm glad she has put this research out there and it's a shame that we still seem to be stuck in the dark ages regarding anorexia.

A thorough resource discussing up-to-date research and theory about eating disorders. Appropriate resource for therapists practicing at all levels. Great case examples.

Really helpful to look at the science behind ED

Wow - auch wenn ich dachte, ich sei bereits in Bezug auf die Bedeutung der genetischen Disposition informiert gewesen, so hat mich dieses Buch komplett erwischt. Auf gut 160 Seiten gelingt es der Autorin ( welche selbst lange an AN erkrankt war)den Leser auf den aktuellen Stand der Neurologie abzuholen. Anorexie ist nicht Germany's next Topmodel sondern eine Stoffwechselerkrankung im Gehirn. An alle Betroffenen und Angehörige: kauft Euch dieses Buch, es ist so hilfreich und zudem verständlich geschrieben.Zudem klärt dieses Buch hervorragend auf und nimmt Eltern die wenig hilfreichen Schuldgefühle.Dieses Buch ist einfach herausragend und ich kann es nur empfehlen.