Eating and Body Image Concerns
“The body holds meaning. A woman obsessed with the size of her body, wishing to make her breasts and thighs and hips and belly smaller and less apparent, may be expressing the fact that she feels uncomfortable being female in this culture.” - Kim Chernin
We’re all self-conscious about our body at times. However, body image concerns may cause serious distress and may lead to maladaptive behaviors related to eating, exercise, and/or methods of purging. Anorexia nervosa, or refusal to maintain a healthy body weight, and Bulimia, a pattern of binge eating and purging behaviors, are two specific psychological disorders related to eating and body image concerns. For more information about these disorders and eating and body image concerns, click here.
Information and resources on eating and body image concerns
Maybe I have an Eating Problem
Body Image and Eating Disorders
Self Help Books and Interesting Reading
- Arnold, G. (1994). Coming home: One Black woman's journey to health and fitness. In E. C. White (Ed.), The Black Woman's Health Book (2nd ed.). Seattle: Seal Press.
- Bordo, S. (2000). The male body: A new look at men in public and private. New York: Farrar , Strauss & Giroux.
- Edut, O. (2000). Body outlaws: Young women write about body image and identity. Seattle: Seal Press.
- Hornbacher, M. (1998). Wasted: A memoir of anorexia and bulimia. New York: Harper Collins.
- Pipher, M. (1995). Hunger pains: The modern woman’s tragic quest for thinness. New York: Ballantine.
- Sherman, R.T., Thompson, R.A. (1990). Bulimia: A guide for family and friends. New York: Lexington.
For more help: Lehigh University’s Women’s Center is a great resource for women and men looking to discuss body image issues The UCPS also offers consultations for students looking to talk about eating and body image concerns.