The Slender Balance

Abstract: A comprehensive overview documents the serious medical and social problems that emerge from the preoccupation of our society with food, weight, and external appearance. Case histories illustrate that abnormal eating disorders do not follow a single pattern and are usually only a small part of the total problem. Abnormal eaters are described as taking positions on an arc, starting with people having anorexia nervosa and descending through bulimia, bulimic dieters, then chronic dieters, the noncompensatory bulimics, and the occasional dieter. The more extreme traits are associated with a high degree of self doubt, low self esteem, a distorted body image, and a tendency to be overly concerned with pleasing others. Advice for the person who has these tendencies and wants to change is given along with a list of support groups and clinics that specialize in treating eating disorders. (emc).