Why She Feels Fat: Understanding Your Loved One¹s Eating Disorder and How You Can Help

by Tony Paulson

Eating disorders are serious, life-threatening illnesses that often make no sense to family and friends. But to the person involved they make a lot of sense, and are, in fact, a way of coping with life.

Sprinkled with over 100 quotes from recovering individuals, Why She Feels Fat explores eating disorders from the inside out to convey the emotional experience and perspectives of those who have them. Decoding the deeper meaning of the statement “I feel fat” is at the heart of this simple and straightforward book that also includes basic information about eating disorders, such as signs, symptoms, medical complications, causes, approaches to treatment, and stages of recovery.

Genres: Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2008

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

My main conclusion is maybe I have read too many books on anorexia and bulimia making my expectations higher than they should be. At one point while reading I flipped to the front of the book to see when it was published because I felt like I was reading a book from 40 years ago when anorexia was barely able to be diagnosed and definitely not considered an illness, albeit mental or physical. Of course, I appreciate quotes and stories of real live people who are dealing or have dealt with an eating disorder..but the published quotes barely scratched the surface of the feelings one has when depriving themselves of food and/or binging and purging. It is commonly accepted and publicized that at the foundation of anorexia is the need for control, whether you agree with that or not...we get it. But how do you change your thinking? How do you teach/learn that the very thing you are clinging to to bring you to life and make you feel worthy is depriving you of both life AND worth? Anorexia/the eating disorder is not your friend. I understand that the trajectory of each person with an eating disorder varies considerably and do take that into account while reflecting on books. I'm on a tangent. Back to the "purpose" of the book...to help deal with your sick loved one. Having suffered from full blown anorexia for a relatively short period of time and using family based therapy to "recover"..I can honestly say I wouldn't recommend this book to either of my parents. It's elementary, it's too cliche, and it doesn't seem to be backed by any scientific evidence. I guess in 2008 we had not dissected the human brain as thoroughly as we have now to determine if someone is predisposed to an eating disorder..but I would have liked this book to put more emphasis on the environmental, physical, genetic, etc. factors that play into an eating disorder. Are we predestined to have an eating disorder? For me, I hope so. Then it wouldn't be my fault.

[T-mere · Rating 3 out of 5]

McShane provides a useful book for parents, family and caregivers that highlights years of her work with ED sufferers. WSFF gives insightful and personal POV from the sufferer and carries an additionally important message that families can and *do* play an important role in supporting their loved one struggling with this complex illness.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

*What feeling fat really means*

A wonderful companion for anyone whose loved one is struggling with anorexia or bulimia, _Why She Feels Fat_, offers an empathic and insightful look into the world of eating disorders. Divided into three sections--Understanding Their World, Hearing Their Words, and Supporting Their Recovery--this book provides information, guidance, and personal quotes to help families begin to understand what "I feel fat" really means. An excellent resource for families just beginning to to discover how to best understand and support their loved one, _Why She Feels Fat_ is a highly recommended first step on the road of eating disorder recovery.

[Jahaira Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the book "Why She Feels Fat: Understanding Your Loved One's Eating Disorder and How You Can Help" it really captures what exactly anorexia is and is put into words that we understand. This book is a guide for parents, families, and friends to help them understand what their loved one is going through and what their thinking, this has everything you need to know about eating disorders. This book not only provides information but solutions, ways you can help someone close to you with this disorder.