A review by sydneyhenshaw
What's Eating Us: Women, Food, and the Epidemic of Body Anxiety by Cole Kazdin

dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

I really enjoyed this reading and feel like I learned so much from it. Like many of the non-fiction books I read, I think it expanded on some knowledge I already had and gave me perspectives I haven’t thought of which I really appreciate. I think it focused on really important topics like what really is a healthy weight, the body positivity movement versus diet culture, eating disorder research and recovery, etc. As well as focusing the conversation around fat people which I think is important with this subject. Though I do appreciate that there were still times to acknowledge that “skinny” women tend to struggle with their weight and body image too. My one critique is the judgement and negativity surrounding alternative medicine in this book. I think it’s okay to point out that alternative medicine is not evidence based and to point out the possible dangers but I think all-out excluding alternative medicine as a possibility for people is closed minded to say the least. Just because it can’t be proven by science doesn’t mean it won’t eventually be, it also can’t be disproven by science (depending on the specific practice obviously).