Just a Little Too Thin: How to Pull Your Child Back from the Brink of an Eating Disorder [Hardcover]

Michael A. Strober (Author), Meg F. Schneider (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 16, 2005

Some diets are just that-a brief episode of calorie or fat counting; they are merely attempts to lose weight for the sake of a smaller skirt size. Other diets, however, are a prelude to the kind of problem with food that has nothing to do with shape or size but rather emotional issues which, left undetected, could bring a child to the brink of a serious eating disorder. The line between one and the other is sometimes hard to determine and many girls slip over that line quickly and quietly. Outlining the findings of Dr. Michael Strober's original research--that there are three distinct stages of eating disorders--Just a Little Too Thin helps parents detect the severity of a child's weight issues and helps them steer her clear of--or maneuver herself off--a slippery slope that could lead to Anorexia Nervosa. Offering expert guidance on how to talk about weight and eating in ways that won't alienate the child in question, it also provides parents with the tools to help them cope with the emotional issues that are feeding their child's obsession with their weight. No matter where a child rests on the continuum of eating behaviors, Just a Little Too Thin is an invaluable aid for parents intent on keeping their children emotionally and physically healthy in a world of unprecedented pressures.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As the title indicates, this thorough and informative guide targets teens who are teetering on the edge of a potential eating disorder, exhibiting warning signs yet still on the brink. At this delicate and precarious point, there are preventive measures concerned parents can take, which eating disorder authority Strober and psychologist Schneider clearly delineate in a user-friendly, approachable style. The dual authorship allows for not only a variety of illustrative anecdotes, but also for both the male and female perspective on body image. The book alerts parents to signs they may not have otherwise noticed, and presents a number of realistic scenarios and suggestions for parents to counter almost any situation that may arise in regard to burgeoning eating disorders. Although some of the advice may seem forced—such as initiating more conversations about "feelings"—the book's suggestions are easily adaptable. The call for more direct communication as well as a comprehensible breakdown of the various behaviors that can indicate a potential eating problem will give readers a firm grip on the issue, its dangers and ways to step in before it's too late.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Anyone who is dieting can go too far...Just a Little too Thin helps recognize how far is too far." -- Midwest Book Review November 2005

"Not only terrific for therapists...but also...for parents...Offers concrete advice on what to say...look for, and...do." -- Psychiatric Services, February 2007

"Strober's book is...very realistic about the lives of teenage girls." -- The Independent, 1/24/06

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (August 16, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738210188
• ISBN-13: 978-0738210186
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,285,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now I get it., September 9, 2005

By 

glad dad (Red Hook, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just a Little Too Thin: How to Pull Your Child Back from the Brink of an Eating Disorder (Hardcover)

I am the father of an adolescent girl who has begun to worry about her weight. I haven't understood why as she is quite slim, but certainly can see she is a perfectionist. Up until now the only books I could find to understand what's happening to her were frightening and about actual illness. There wasn't anything about what could be happening to MY child now -- while she's still rather healthy. This book is totally great. I now understand where my daughter is on the dieting spectrum, I have a sense of how to read her behaviors and I even feel confident now talking to her about food, weight, and her desire to be thin. We're not fighting. We're actually talking. This is a book that seems to have helped me put each of us in a safer place. I highly recommend it to any parent who is seeing their child begin to obsess about her weight.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be read with STICK FIGURE by Lori Gottlieb, September 29, 2005

By 

Mother of Teen Girl (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just a Little Too Thin: How to Pull Your Child Back from the Brink of an Eating Disorder (Hardcover)

Dr. Michael Strober provides excellent insight for parents of girls suffering from eating disorders. His combination of academic research and clinical experience makes his advice both practical and effective. There is no other guide like this out there.

Another excellent resource for parents is STICK FIGURE: A DIARY OF MY FORMER SELF by Lori Gottlieb. I heard a reading from both books tonight, and having both the doctor's and patient's points of views was invaluable. As a parent of a teen girl, I highly recommend reading both books together.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars David Feinberg, MD, September 27, 2005

By 

David Feinberg MD (Beverly Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just a Little Too Thin: How to Pull Your Child Back from the Brink of an Eating Disorder (Hardcover)

Dr. Michael Strober has taken his life's work, synthesized it, and encapsulated in a very well written, accessible text. Dr. Strober is known internationally in academic psychiatry and psychology as a "triple threat". This means he has the highest respect as a clinician, teacher and researcher. When it comes to eating disorders you want Dr. Strober to care for you; you want him to teach you and you want to follow his research findings. Now all of these arenas are covered in one place: Just a Little Too Thin: How to Pull Your Child Back from the Brink of an Eating Disorder. I consider this a must read for any patient or family dealing with anorexia as well as all students and clinicians interested in eating disorder.