Food Fight: A Guide to Eating Disorders for Preteens and Their Parents [Hardcover]

Janet Bode (Author)

Book Description

A complete resource for preteens and their parents candidly discusses the symptoms and possible causes of anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating, and other eating disorders and includes interviews with children who suffer from them."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Examining in depth how eating disorders begin," said PW, "this extensively researched, clearly written book offers supportive and constructive advice about how to break those patterns." Ages 8-12. (Oct.)r
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7. Food Fight was written in response to the increasing occurrence of anorexia and bulimia among children as young as eight or nine, even though much of the discussion may be beyond that target audience. The first section is directed at preteens; it describes and analyzes various eating disorders, often using interviews with young victims as examples. Bode's approach is highly readable and her tone is conversational. Sidebars, quotes, and charts are scattered throughout, often with quirky titles such as "Death's Door," "Starve and Stuff," and "Shamu the Whale." The presentation informs anorexic or bulimic children that they are not alone or unique in their struggles. Solid information is presented, albeit somewhat indirectly, in a nonthreatening manner often couched in offbeat humor, such as the chapter title, "Yum, Yum, Yum, Barf." The second part of the book, related in the same compassionate manner, is for adults. In it, Bode reveals her daughter's ongoing struggle with bulimia. She offers hope, direction, and companionship to her fellow travelers on a difficult and sometimes fatal journey. Clifford J. Sherry's Drugs and Eating Disorders (Rosen, 1994), which also includes the abuse of diet pills and appetite suppressants, and Ellen Erlanger's Eating Disorders (Lerner, 1988) are more straightforward presentations. Nancy J. Kolodny's When Food's a Foe (Little, Brown, 1992), Don Nardo's Eating Disorders (Lucent, 1991), and Ben Sonder's Eating Disorders (Watts, 1993) are more detailed treatments for YAs.?Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1 edition (May 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689802722
• ISBN-13: 978-0689802720
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,368,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Anorexia and Bulimia, but not Binge., November 15, 2005

By 

Robert P. Beveridge "xterminal" (Lakewood, OH) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Food Fight: A Guide to Eating Disorders for Preteens and Their Parents (Hardcover)

Janet Bode, Food Fight (Simon and Schuster, 1997)

I never realized how many books there are about children and eating disorders until I went looking for them. Among them, Food Fight stands out because it's the only one I've found so far that's actually written for the children, rather than the parents.

Unfortunately, as I am finding seems to be the case with most books of this nature, the author defines "eating disorders" quite narrowly as anorexia and bulimia, only mentioning binge eating disorder in passing a time or two.

Thus, this may well be an excellent book for children with those diseases (and their parents), but for parents of children with other eating disorders, its use will be questionable. ** ½

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Stop the "food fight", September 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Food Fight (Library Binding)

Food Fight by Janet Bode is a very helpful book. It's an easy read and not hard to understand at all. It includes real storied from the people and their family and friends. It helps me understand what really goes on with eating disorders and why they can be so hard to stop. It teaches you why eating disorders star, how to prevent then, and when to know you have gone to far with your "diet." It's for people who know people with an eating disorder or think you or someone you might know might have an eating disorder. It's a really helpful book I think! The people in the book tell real stories about how eating disorders affected their lives from family and friends points of view. To real people my age (young teens and teens) that has this problem and have gone through it already or who are going through it now. It's an amazing book about what happens in real life.

4.0 out of 5 stars Hungry or Not, September 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Food Fight (Library Binding)

Danielle is a nice and wondering girl at the age of 10, she was always wondering about little things that didn't even matter. Over the years she was always asking do u think I am fat, do u think that I am gaining weight, those were the type of questions you would think I little kid would worry about. Her parents were really never paying attention to her and didn't notice by the age of 13 she was too concern about her weight and not school work. When she hit the age 14 it was too late she developed an eating disorder and didn't care about anything in her life except not gaining weight. As the days past she ate less and less everyday, thinking that any food would cause harm to her skinny body. Her eating disorder was kind of like cigarettes, once you do it too many times you become addicted and nothing else mattered to her. Trying to only go on a small diet to lose a few pounds she was barging for more than she wanted and it was off to the races that's why this book is called Food Fight. I enjoyed reading this book because I think many teenagers can relate it easily. This story is exciting and will keep you on yours toes wanting to know what happens every step of the way.