Sick Enough: A Guide to the Medical Complications of Eating Disorders

I have recently started treatment to deal with a 35 plus year eating disorder. I stumbled upon this book while looking for reading material on the topic. All I can say is wow! The author and this book did an outstanding job of outlining the physical and mental tolls eating disorders of any form can take on the body and all of its organs and their functions. (chapters are dedicated to a variety of ED's). It doesn't as much get into the treatment but does talk about how eating disorders can develop and continue to thrive in many scenarios. Reading this made me realize how much damage I have done and how I have also explained away a number of health issues which are clearly the result of my eating behaviors. It has been a real wake up call to continue to pursue and look for treatments which I know will be hard given how long this has gone on.What I would highly recommend for parents of children of any age is even reading the last chapter on how to create a positive environment at home. My kids are already out of the house but I think this chapter offers great insights on how we can portray positive messages to our children and hopefully not pass along eating disorders to them.

The information within the book is helpful for any medical professional, ED-specialized or otherwise. It is a good mixture of clear medical knowledge while also being easy to read. Highly recommend for any medical professional that works with ED patients, including primary care.

What a great overview. Parents, teens, adults, friends - you all need to read this book. Short chapters that are easy to understand.

This book is excellent! High recommend if you work with eating disorders.

I so appreciate books like these. I work with chronic sufferers from eating disorders. This disease is tough & takes a lot of time & effort to overcome. I want to avail myself of all the latest research & info to help me support my clients. I even read segments of this book to my clients in sessions to help them fully understand what’s going on in their bodies & why - since unfortunately not more MDs are properly educated & informed about how best to work with those struggling with EDs. A++ Finding new ways to motivate clients towards change is key, especially when change with ED behaviors is so difficult. This book provides very clear understanding of medical complications of this disorder.

This is THE book to read about eating disorders and disordered eating! Far superior to any other book on the market on the subject. It is an absolute must-read for every health care provider, individual struggling with disordered eating, or acquaintance of someone struggling. It contains extremely helpful info on the physical, mental, and emotional effects of disordered eating and of other related conditions. It contains a lot of detail and deep information and yet does it in a very readable and easy-to-understand manner. It also has great info on the health at every size movement. So many lives would improved if this book was required reading for every budding doctor, nurse, therapist, and dietician, and for every parent, partner spouse, etc of those struggling with disordered eating.

This book fundamentally transforms the experience of recovering from an eating disorder. It's the first book to address both the physical and inner experience of recovery with equal precision and respect. Dr. G's medical explanations bring clarity and validation, removing fear and building trust in the body's wisdom. But more importantly, her work opens up space for new kinds of questions about selfhood and agency in recovery. Where is the line between illness and identity, biology and self? How can an illness that begins in our chromosomes lead to lessons at the level of soul? Dr. G makes it possible to approach these questions with openness and curiosity, not stigma and blame. She creates a space into which new narratives can enter-- narratives that center the patient experience, the way biology manifests in diverse human beings with values and experiences beyond a diagnosis. Thanks to Dr. G, those of us recovering today have access to a new vocabulary to conceive of our illness and new maps to full recovery. It's a language of rigor, wholeness, integration, and dignity that changes the tone of conversation and empowers healing.

Well written. Not quite what I had expected and can be really “triggering “ in the patient’s hands.

If you have an eating disorder or have a family member who does, this book may be an excellent tool. I am anorexic and in treatment. My dietician suggested I read this book to help me connect with the reality that I actually an "Sick enough" to need treatment. It is a common battle people with eating disorders face. Where this book may be hard to read, it hit home. The way the information is laid out made it easy to identify with. Each medical issue was also presented with a case study. They gave a back story to each patient and a follow up as to the progress they made. I highly recommend it, however if you are receiving treatment, perhaps seek council from your therapist or dietician as it can be triggering and having access to a professional to talk through those triggers may be helpful.

This is an excellent book for any clinician with an interest in medicine and eating disorders. Dr Gaudiani's work is invaluable and her book is a wonderful resource.

This book provided such depth and knowledge. I highly recommend it!

I highly recommend this book to anyone with disordered eating. It’s really practical and informative and covers every topic you could possibly think of. The author, Dr Gaudiani, is also incredibly compassionate and progressive in her approach.

Arrived so much earlier than expected - 2 days after order! Great condition and is as described