Customer Reviews

Crave: Why You Binge Eat and How to Stop

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I saw Crave's author on GMA which propelled me to order the book. I was disappointed. The author clearly has spend a great deal of time dealing with eating disorders and there are some high points.

Overall, though, I find the book highly rudimentary in its sentiments. There really aren't any great "epiphanies" here. She touts the need to eat breakfast so you feel full, drink water, etc. All of these are diet tips you can get anywhere.

Purchasing this book, perhaps my expectations were too high. I was looking for real insight that might shed light on the emotional side of eating but alas I didn't find it in this book.

There are recommendations to seek counseling but it would have been great to have a little more depth in Dr. Bulik's writing.

The book was mildly interesting but as another reviewer said, there's nothing new here. Eat breakfast, exercise, control yourself... yeah, we've heard that before. What I thought I was going to get was good solid evidence of genetic predisposition to ravenous over eating. The author says, yes, it's part genetic, but offers no insight beyond that confirmation -- no insight into the biological chain of events that cause the "crave", which is what I'd hoped for when the cover boasted "Why You Binge Eat". Also, there is no "How to Stop" advised beyond the very disappointing comment: "What I encourage is that you take control of your own sweet-stat; put it on manual and shelter yourself from the seduction of increasing sweetification." That's all very nice but that's like telling a heroin addict to "take control" of their addiction in the same manner, just "put it on manual". How exactly is that done? Especially when your brain is screaming for a hit? Other than this weak plea to "take control" there really is no "how to stop" offered in the book. How is that different than being told you need more "will power"?

There are some OK tidbits of information in this book: interesting facts about sweet drinks (but we've already heard that our Starbucks lattes are bad for us too) encouragement to accept the genes you're born with and another plea to "overcome your allergy to exercise". But what about those who do exercise regularly and still binge? Not everyone is "allergic" to exercise. Again, as another reviewer said, this is the same advice given in diet books, healthy living books and hundreds of women's magazines. I was just hoping for a bit more. I was hoping for the content promised on the cover.

This book is great if you're into cognitive behavior therapy. Otherwise it doesn't seem to touch the deeper issues of eating disorders. Didn't finish the book, and never will.

This book was not exactly what I was looking for.
It seemed to focus a great deal on ways that people suffering from obesity can lose weight and learn to love exercise, to understand that BED is genetically linked, and recommendations for proper and appropriate nutrition as well as different kinds of useful therapy. It's informative. But it's definitely not a guide on how to stop binge eating. I think it also discounts the large portion of people with BED who are also compulsive exercise addicts or who are thin or normal weight. There are many, many people who suffer from binge eating disorder who are not obese at all, yet this book tends to focus on those who are obese, so only a subset of binge eaters are represented here. The other thing about people with BED or any eating disorder really, is that many are experts on diet and nutrition, from all the years of obsessing about weight and body. This book seems to be written for those who are new to diet and exercise. If you are obese and are afraid of exercise and don't know anything about eating healthy, I think that this book will be helpful for you. However, if you're more average size and know the ins and outs of exercise and nutrition and are looking for more of a book that addresses the emotional aspects of binge eating this is probably not your book.

IF you really want to stop binge eating, look up Kay Sheppard's plan. Her eating plan works for addicted people. It's the only thing I've found. Emotional responses are important, but far more important is an eating plan that works, that keeps the addictive foods at a minimum, and that offers a plan for lifetime control of binge eating.

This book misses the mark, although it highlights some of the more superficial aspects of compulsive eating. Some of the advice is quite contradictory. Dietary behavior is actually encouraged in parts of the book, though it's dietary behaviors that feed the disorder. The studies cited don't really support some of the authors' views. Not enough critical analysis is demonstrated. "Intuitive eating" approach, which this book goes against in many ways, has the most clinical support in helping those who suffer from bingeing.

Better to instead read books by leaders in the field like Karen Koenig or Geneen Roth.

A well written book for general audience, rather than a college text book type, on how to develop effective strategies to successfully conquer cravings and establish healthy eating and activity habits. Informative and thought provoking.

EVERYONE, regardless of eating habits, can benefit from this book. With 1 in 35 people suffering from Binge Eating Disorder, this book is about our friends, loved ones, or even ourselves.

I am a therapist, treating people with eating disorders, and one of my patients bought this book even before I did. She suffers from Bulimia Nervosa and found the style, suggestions, and explanations of Dr. Bulik to be accessible and applicable to her struggles, even though the book is primarily designed to help those with BED. I know it has helped my patient focus on "one thing at a time", and the book has given her a framework for some extra homework outside of sessions. It has also given me a fresh understanding of BED. While reading, I did "Crave" the book and had a hard time putting it down.

This book tackles binge eating as an actual eating disorder and not a behavioral choice. Nonetheless, there are tips included for how to manage consumption and ultimately create a healthier relationship with food.

The book was in damaged condition and was rated a good or acceptable. I am very disappointed in this purchase.