Peer Power
Recommended Reading
Eating Disorders
Girl Power in the Mirror, Helen Cordes
This is one of the first and best books for middle school age girls to read to avoid harmful dieting and possible eating disorders. It covers such topics that are crucial for prevention, such as: self-expression, finding inner strength, understanding fat feelings, becoming media literate, and more. Although body image and eating are discussed, eating disorders and their symptoms are not, which is often recommended for this age.
Like Mother, Like Daughter, Debra Waterhouse, M.P.H.,R.D.
"An unhealthy relationship with food often begins with a mother's spoken and unspoken messages initiate her daughter's fight against her own developing body. In Like Mother, Like Daughter, Debra traces the spread of disordered eating and body dissatisfaction in each generation to more and more women and to younger and younger girls. Through the latest research, she documents the destructive cycle of dieting and overeating, and untangles the complicated web of mother-daughter food connections."
PERK!: The Story of a Teenager with Bulimia, Liza F. Hall. GŸrze Books
Perk is a high school student whose self-doubts, weight concerns, and puppy love lead her into bulimia. A well-written page-turner, this novel is ideal for teens and young adults who want to understand eating disorders for their own sake or for friends who struggle with food and family issues Readers will identify with and enjoy Perk! -- both the character and the book. Winner of YA Fiction Award from the Southern California Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Real Gorgeous: The Truth about Body & Beauty, Kaz Cooke.
Packed with jokes, cartoons, and practical ways to find real self-esteem, this is a fun and funny book for everyone, particularly high school and college-aged women who need a fresh approach. Kaz covers everything from push-up bras to liposuction, including diet myths, eating disorders, body image, the media, and much more. Humorous and filled with sensible and nonsensical insights, like this bonus fact: "You are not your buttocks."
Perfectionism: What's Bad about Being Too Good?, Miriam Adderholdt-Elliot, Ph.D.
Teens need a balance between work and school, play and hobbies, and family and social relationships. This book will show them how important it is to give themselves a break every now and then, to be pleased with who and what they are, and to enjoy the healthy pursuit of excellence, not perfection.
Adios, Barbie, Ophira Edut
This is a super collection of first-person "stories" and fresh and incisive essays by 28 young women who insist on feeling at home in their bodies. One of its authors would like to see different kinds of dolls, like Body Piercings Barbie, Transgender Barbie (formerly known as G.I. Joe), and Harley Barbie. Covering a wide range of subjects, some of the chapters are funny and other serious; but all are great reading. High school, college and older.
Life in the Fat Lane, Cherie Bennett
For no apparent reason, the Forest Hills High School homecoming queen and cutest girl in the school gains over ninety pounds. Her doctor and other specialists can't explain why she keeps gaining weight even while on extreme diets. When the "cool" kids ostracize her and she even begins to hate herself, she learns about fat prejudice and discovers meaning and friendship are not dependent on beauty pageant looks. Middle school and older.
The Best Little Girl in the World, Steven Levenkron, M.D.
Without anyone knowing, Kessa avoids eating whenever she can and forces herself to vomit when she does eat, dropping from 98 pounds to 88, 81, 78 . . . and it may be too late. More than ½ million copies in print since 1978; made into a TV movie. High school and up.
Taking Charge of My Mind and Body: A Girl's Guide to Outsmarting Alcohol, Drug, Smoking and Eating Problems, Gladys Folkers, M.A. and Jeanne Engelmann
A survival guide for teens, especially girls, this book provides straightforward answers to these important concerns. There are four sections: drugs and alcohol, smoking, eating disorders, and steps for positive change (communication, relationships, beliefs, behaviors, and problem solving). Clearly addresses myths and realities, and has good advice.
Hunger Pains From Fad Diets to Eating Disorders - What Every Woman Needs to Know About Food, Dieting, and Self-Concept, Mary Pipher, Ph.D.
Written by the author of thebest-selling Reviving Ophelia, this is a clear, readable introduction to eating disorders for young women (high school age and up). With interesting cases studies and a good discussion of basic issues (everything from anorexia and bulimia to fad diets, cultural pressure, and obesity) it also has answers for parents who want to help their children.
Dear Kids of Alcoholics, Lindsey Hall & Leigh Cohn. Gürze Books.
This is an honest, hopeful book for children (ages 8-17) of an alcoholic parent. Its main character, a boy named Jason, explains facts about alcoholism with touching stories about his dad’s sensitivity to alcohol, destructive behavior, and recovery process.
Anorexia Nervosa: When Food is the Enemy, Erica Smith
In addition to presenting the basic facts about anorexia, this book addresses cultural attitudes about weight and body image and the emotional distress that contribute to this disorder. Also explores different avenues for treatment and recovery.
Bulimia Nervosa: The Secret Cycle of Bingeing & Purging, Liza Burby
This book presents facts about bulimia in an informative, non-glamorizing fashion, though it does report that bulimia is wide-spread and has afflicted various famous people. It explains the differences and similarities to anorexia nervosa, outlines causes, presents the physical and emotional side-effects, and describes the recovery process.
Compulsive Eating: The Struggle to Feed the Hunger Inside, Christie L. Ward
Teens are under tremendous cultural and peer pressure to be thin, and many are driven to compulsive eating and destructive dieting. This book emphasizes that compulsive eating is a serious disorder and addresses behaviors, causes, emotional side-effects, food as an addiction, triggers, notions about being fat or thin, and finding help.
Body Blues: Weight and Depression, Laura Weeldreyer
Teens who are dissatisfied with the way they look often feel depressed. This book discusses self-acceptance, real vs. imagined problems, inner critics, the truth about weight charts, the role of genes, and how to break the food/mood cycle.
Food and Love: Dealing with Family Issues about Weight, Elizabeth Frankenberger
This book will help teens recognize the role that food plays in their households as well as how it affects their self-image. Discusses both physical and emotional nourishment in the home, healthy eating, communication skills, setpoint, natural weight, and family issues about weight and genetics.
Inside Eating Disorders Support Groups, Barbara Moe
In addition to facts about eating disorders, this book describes different kinds of groups (peer support, professionally led, OA, Twelve Step meetings, and online). Offers guidelines for starting groups and details common discussion topics and guidelines for successful meetings.
The Dangers of Diet Drugs and Other Weight-Loss Products, Gloria Kury
This book discusses a variety of popular diet products, emphasizing that regular exercise and healthy eating are more important indicators of well-being than how much a person weighs.
Eating Disorder Survivors Tell Their Stories, Christina Chiu
Chiu tells the stories of three girls and a boy who recovered from compulsive eating, bulimia, anorexia nervosa and compulsive exercise, with advice from each.
Exercise Addiction, Laurie Kaminker
This book discusses how exercising for weight loss or to reach to an unrealistic ideal can have negative emotional and physical side-effects. Includes suggestions for help.
Starving to Win: Athletes and Eating Disorders, Eileen O'Brien
Athletes often develop eating disorders to "make weight" or please coaches. Includes information on genetics and body shape, balanced diets, and breaking through denial.
Weight-Loss Programs: Weighing the Risks and Realities, Michele Drohan
This book explains the manipulative profit motive behind weight-loss centers, and why healthy eating and natural weight are better means to self esteem than false promises.
What's Real, What's Ideal: Overcoming Negative Body Image, Brangien Davis
This book explains how a negative body image affects the body and mind by exploring the dangers of dieting, peer pressure, low self esteem, sexual abuse, and eating disorders.
