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Talking to Eating Disorders: Simple Ways to Support Someone With Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating, Or Body Ima ge Issues Paperback – July 5, 2005

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 34 ratings
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When a friend or family member shows signs of an eating disorder, the first impulse is to charge in, give advice, and fix what is wrong. But these tactics-however well-intentioned-can backfire.

This compassionate guide offers ways to tackle the tough topics of body image, media messages, physical touch, diets, and exercise-along with a special section on talking about these issues with children. It includes information about when to get professional help, how to handle emergencies, and answers to difficult questions such as "Am I too fat?" or "Is this ok to eat?"
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Publishing Group
  4. Publication date
    July 5, 2005
  5. Dimensions
    5.31 x 0.58 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0451215222
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0451215222
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeanne Albronda Heaton, Ph.D., has 30 years of experience providing therapy and working with a multidisciplinary team for eating disorders. She is the director of Ohio University's Counseling and Psychological Services and has a private practice. She has worked with special groups, including Body Peace, Adult Children of Alcoholics, and Survivor's Recovery, and is the author of several books on mental health practice. She also teaches doctoral students in both psychology and counselor education at Ohio University.

Claudia J. Strauss is an award-winning communication consultant and educator. An adjunct professor of English at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania, she runs a business in strategic communication and coaches adults with ADD and other learning disabilities.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Publishing Group (July 5, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0451215222
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0451215222
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.58 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 34 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
34 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Ann M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Really focuses on what the title suggests!
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2009
Verified Purchase
I found this book as a second try and I'm glad I did! When I had the need for a book on this subject I checked one out of the public library in my hometown. It was so bad I returned it after reading about half. I found this one on Amazon and ordered it without reviews but I'm happy I took a chance.

The focus of the book is on talking, communication and understanding. How to be the best support for a person you love. It empathetically explains what you can expect to help out with and kindly lets you know when to hold back or have patience and realize that you cannot control what someone else eats.

That said there is a lot that you can do to be supportive and encouraging. I have read each section and found myself better understanding what the person suffering from the eating disorder is actually thinking. How they are processing what we are saying, for good or bad. I realized that this is one disorder where it is so easy to try your best to be supportive but fail because your words are inadvertently hurtful or misunderstood.

What I also loved about this book was the lack of filler. It does not spend pages quoting side effects, endless paragraphs of examples that take up space or chapters dedicated to rehash. They wrote a book that filled a need and not to make money on a "hot" topic. It also lets you in on the fact that with an eating disorders there is no easy cure. Many of the books I looked at seemed to hint that if you followed this or that program you'd have this problem crossed off your list, and fast.

The author explains the long term situation, the 3 steps forward 2 steps back path that this disorder usually takes. I appreciated knowing that it might be a long road and not to expect miracles. I learned how to listen, so I'd know when to bring up certain subjects to get the ball rolling again or for the fist time.

Very insightful and informative.
Thank you Ms. Heaton and Ms. Strauss
14 people found this helpful
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Skydiver
5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for "beginners."
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
As someone with no prior knowledge of eating disorders, I found this book very enlightening. In simple terms, it gives the reader a good understanding of various eating disorders.

Examples of why people end up with eating disorders are given, but it’s also pointed out that everyone is different. Very useful are the sections on how to talk to someone with an eating disorder in a supportive way, pointing out what you can say in a particular situation, and things that you should not say.

I purchased two different books on eating disorders, and I found this one most helpful. It’s easy to read and understand. I highly recommend it.
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Ellen M. Reardon
4.0 out of 5 stars It gives a good basic level of knowledge to anyone who might have ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2016
Verified Purchase
I purchased this as a clinician working with the eating disordered population.
It gives a good basic level of knowledge to anyone who might have a loved one struggling with an ED. It gives a good sense of how to help in a way that isn't over stepping the bounds of the relationship, but in a way that is constructive.

Recommended to parents, friends, siblings, and professionals who are working with this population.
6 people found this helpful
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Grace
5.0 out of 5 stars Changed my life.
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2015
Verified Purchase
Really helped my boyfriend and my family through my eating disorder. I went through the book, highlighted the passages I felt pertained to my ED and they read them and helped change their triggering words. But most of all, It gave me perspective on how badly my ED was hurting not only me, but my loved ones too. I can safely say, that after years of counseling, I am recovered :) (and only 19!) and the biggest difference that help give me the push to give up what was killing me was this book. I felt like it really understood me and it helped show me how it wasn't my fault, but it also wasn't my parents, or my boyfriends. I would recommend this to anyone.
7 people found this helpful
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Nicki011
5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, yet sound advice
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2020
Verified Purchase
Great advice for what to say to help anyone close to you who might be struggling with an eating disorder. Recommend to friends or family members who just don't know what to say or how to say it.
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D. White
3.0 out of 5 stars Good information, but very basic
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2009
Verified Purchase
Heaton and Strauss have written a book on a very complex topic - eating disorders - and have done a good job in breaking things down so that a caregiver or anyone who is concerened can help through practical means - in conversation, actions, etc... I felt that they provided some very good suggestions as to specific words that are helpful, and words that don't encourage.

I bought this book, as my mid-twenty year old girlfriend has anorexia. Unfortunately, I found that while good information was presented, it was very basic. For example, the first chapter talks about blame and how blaming others can complicate a situation. While this is true, I didn't need to be reminded of this simple fact.

There is no fluff in this book what-so-ever. It is simply filled with tons of suggestions of things to say or not to say, along with a description for each comment. I found it frustratingly simple, with, as I've said before, many topics that felt like common sense. I feel that this book, however, would be a fantastic resource for younger friends of a person with an ED, maybe for the middle school and early highschool years.

On average, I read about half the book within about a 3-day time period, and skimmed the rest.

Chapters include topics on:
Blame, understanding change, being in control of what you can and should be in control of, conversation basics, talking about body image, talking about messages from the media, talking about touch (for romantic relationships), talking about diet, talking about exercise, talking about professional help, talking to young people, managing emergencies, handling relapses, and a "dos and don'ts" chapter.

Each chapter is short, and, as I said before, have many of the "comments" in bold, with an explaination.

For me, this wasn't helpful, although it did affirm a lot that I already knew or felt. I will be searching for a more exhaustive resource, probably this time, one specifically on anorexia.
10 people found this helpful
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Christine
5.0 out of 5 stars best book I've read on how to address a family member or friend with an eating disorder I've read so far.
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2018
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this is the best book for family and friends of people with eating disorders I've read so far. it gives solid advice to people regarding how to address their concerns with the person they love who is suffering from an eating disorder in a respectful way. highly recommend.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Tara Hope
5.0 out of 5 stars I can say this is the best resource for parents and loved ones of those suffering ...
Reviewed in Canada on November 9, 2016
Verified Purchase
As a Registered Clinical Eating Disorder Counsellor, I can say this is the best resource for parents and loved ones of those suffering from EDs out there. It is also useful for clinicians and others in the field. I highly recommend this book!
One person found this helpful
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Faith Unoarumhi
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2015
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