Library Journal Review

In consultation with Gempeler, a renowned Colombian psychologist and researcher of eating disorders, journalist Reyes Gfaro recounts real-life cases of patients who suffer from anorexia and bulimia. She discusses the history of these diseases from the Middle Ages to the present, arguing that contemporary culture pressures certain people into following abnormal eating patterns. The book begins with a discussion of the role of food in our daily lives and its importance in social rituals and feasts and then examines the difference between normal and abnormal eating habits. Reyes Gfaro then explores the sociological, religious, psychological, and physiological aspects of these two diseases by differentiating their causes and treatments and patients' behavioral patterns. She also emphasizes the role of family and friends in providing emotional support. The personal testimonies are accompanied by explanations that clarify these complex diseases for lay readers, and boxed summaries review salient points and offer suggestions to both patient and caretaker. The table of contents can be used to consult specific topics, and the text covers websites that offer advice and list specialized centers for eating disorders in Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and Argentina. A bibliography of books on eating disorders is another helpful resource for the reader. Highly recommended for public libraries and bookstores. Bernadette Lopez-Fitzsimmons, Manhattan Coll. Libs., Riverdale, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.