A review by robbiearch
Overcoming Binge Eating by Christopher G. Fairburn

3.0

Reading this alongside treatment for bulimia has been really helpful. The book being split into two was also a good move as the first half gives you information about bulimia, binge eating disorder and also anorexia. It gives information on what is the 'general' age people develop these eating disorders, how they manifest themselves, quotes and comments from people who have these eating disorder and general information which made me feel a lot less alone as my feelings and behaviours are very clearly shared ones. The second half of the book is focused on the treatment plan and how to move through this, with or without outside mental health help. It was comforting to know that the plan would be followed the same way whether you were an inpatient, outpatient or receiving no mental health support at all. I didn't read the book "cover to cover' so to speak. I found the first half quite triggering in parts and my key worker recommended that I moved onto the second half of the book where they are purely focused on treatment and I then later came back to the first half of the book. I have lent this book to family members and they have too found it helpful to read and understand more of the brain of someone with an eating disorder. I can defenitly see the change in langue that they use and there greater understand since reading the book. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has not only binge eating disorder but also bulimia or EDNOS. I am giving this 3 stars because it is a good book but the first half is very triggering in parts which I had to be very wary of which left me picking and choosing what parts of the book to read next. Still extremely helpful and I do recommend this book to friends and family as well as sufferers.